Arteria vesicalis superior
The superior vesical artery is a branch of the anterior division of the internal iliac artery. It supplies part of the bladder, ureter, seminal vesicle and ductus deferens.
Summary
- origin: anterior division of internal iliac artery
- location: pelvis
- supply: superior bladder, ureter, ductus deferens
- branches: middle vesical, artery to the ductus deferens
Gross anatomy
Origin
The superior vesical artery originates in the pelvis, from the anterior division of the internal iliac artery. It travels along the pelvic sidewall, then courses medially toward the upper portion of the bladder within a fold of peritoneum.
Branches
The superior vesical artery is the persistent proximal portion of the fetal umbilical artery. The distal part is obliterated and forms the medial umbilical ligament.
The artery divides in order to supply fundus of the bladder, ureter and ductus deferens. The portion that supplies the bladder and seminal vesicles may be named the middle vesical artery. The ductus deferens branch supplies the ductus deferens in males.
Supply
The fundus of the bladder, adjacent ureter, seminal vesicles, ductus deferens.
Variant anatomy
The superior vesical artery is often the highest anterior branch of the internal iliac artery, but this may vary. The artery is named according to its supply rather than its relation to the internal iliac artery.