iliac artery

noun

1

: either of the large arteries supplying blood to the lower trunk and hind limbs and arising by bifurcation of the aorta which in humans occurs at the level of the fourth lumbar vertebra to form one vessel for each side of the body

called also common iliac artery

2

: the outer branch of the common iliac artery on either side of the body that passes beneath the inguinal ligament to become the femoral artery

called also external iliac artery

3

: the inner branch of the common iliac artery on either side of the body that soon breaks into several branches and supplies blood chiefly to the pelvic and gluteal areas

called also hypogastric artery, internal iliac artery