Left internal iliac artery

Looks like

A short, thick artery that dives into the pelvis from the fork of the common iliac artery, then splits into many branches.

What it does

Feeds the bladder, rectum, womb or prostate, the buttock muscles and the genitals.

Keeping it well

Radiologists block its branches to stop heavy bleeding after childbirth or a pelvic fracture. Narrowing can cause buttock pain on walking or erection problems.

Related conditions

• Bone metastases and spinal cord compression
• High blood pressure
• High cholesterol
• Hypothermia & frostbite
• Kawasaki disease
• Metabolic syndrome
• Orthostatic hypotension & POTS
• Peripheral artery disease
• Phaeochromocytoma & hyperaldosteronism
• Pre-eclampsia
• Raynaud's phenomenon
• Sepsis
• Shock (circulatory failure)
• Vasculitis (GCA & others)