Morphometric Analysis of the Internal Iliac Artery in Adult Human Pelvis

Background: The internal iliac artery is the principal arterial supply to the pelvic organs, gluteal region, and perineum. Detailed morphometric knowledge of this artery is essential for pelvic surgery, interventional radiology, and obstetric procedures. The objective is to analyze the morphometric characteristics of the internal iliac artery, including vertebral level of origin, distance from the midsagittal plane, length, diameter, and anatomical relationships. Material and Methods: Sixty formalin-fixed adult pelvic halves were dissected. Morphometric parameters, including vertebral level of origin, horizontal distance from the midsagittal plane, relationship with the sacroiliac joint, arterial length, and external diameter, were measured and analysed. Results: The most common vertebral level of origin was between L5 and S1 (48.3%), followed by S1 (23.3%) and L5 (15%). The most frequent distance from the midsagittal plane was 30–34 mm (21.7%). The internal iliac artery was located medial to the sacroiliac joint in 61.67% of specimens. The most common arterial length was 30–40 mm (40%), while the most frequent diameter range was 7–8 mm (40%). Conclusion: The internal iliac artery demonstrates considerable morphometric variability. Knowledge of these anatomical variations is essential for pelvic surgical procedures, vascular interventions, and radiological procedures.

Keywords: Internal iliac artery, pelvic vasculature, morphometry, sacroiliac joint, pelvic anatomy.