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umbilical artery
Before birth the umbilical arteries carry blood from the fetus to the placenta for reoxygenation. Postnatally their distal parts atrophy & form fibrous cords - medial umbilical ligaments.
Origin: Anterior division of internal iliac artery
Course:
-> obliterates, becoming medial umbilical ligament after running a short pelvic course during which it gives rise to superior vesical arteries
Branches:
-> superior vesical arteries
Distribution:
1) superior aspect of urinary bladder (via superior vesical arteries);
2) occasionally artery to ductus deferens (males)
Properties
GENERAL: artery
RELATED: medial umbilical fold
FORM: umbilical artery
ORIGIN: internal iliac artery (hypogastric artery)
References
- Stedman's Medical Dictionary 27th ed, Williams &
Wilkins, Baltimore, 1999.
- Clinically Oriented Anatomy, 4th edition, KL Moore &
AF Dalley (eds), Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, Philadelphia,
PA 1999.