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Inferior gluteal artery

The inferior gluteal artery is a major terminal branch of the anterior division of the internal iliac artery. It arises near the level of the greater sciatic notch, usually sharing a common trunk with the internal pudendal artery. It leaves the pelvis through the greater sciatic foramen, inferior to the piriformis muscle, alongside the inferior gluteal vein and nerve.

Once in the gluteal region, the artery descends deep to the gluteus maximus, giving off muscular branches to the gluteus maximus, obturator internus, quadratus femoris, superior hamstrings, and hip joint capsule. It anastomoses with the superior gluteal artery, medial and lateral circumflex femoral arteries, and perforating arteries of the profunda femoris, contributing to the cruciate and trochanteric anastomoses of the hip.

Clinically, the artery is important in hip surgery, pelvic trauma, tumor embolization, and flap reconstruction. Because of its deep location, injury is rare but can cause life-threatening hemorrhage. It is also a landmark in posterior hip approaches.

Synonyms

  • Arteria glutea inferior

  • Ischiatic artery

Function

  • Provides arterial blood supply to gluteus maximus, deep hip rotators, superior hamstrings, and hip joint capsule

  • Contributes to collateral circulation of the hip and thigh

  • Supplies perforating cutaneous branches to lower gluteal skin

  • Vascular pedicle in inferior gluteal flap surgery

MRI Appearance

T1-weighted images:

  • Vessel appears as a linear hypointense flow void coursing below piriformis and into gluteal region

  • Surrounded by hyperintense fat in pelvis and gluteal soft tissues

T2-weighted images:

  • Normal artery: signal void

  • Pathology (aneurysm, thrombosis): hyperintense or heterogeneous signal in lumen

STIR:

  • Fat suppression enhances artery visibility against gluteal fat

  • Highlights perivascular edema, inflammation, or hematoma

T1 Fat-Suppressed Post-Gadolinium:

  • Artery enhances brightly and homogeneously

  • Reveals muscular branches and anastomoses in gluteal region

  • Useful for detecting tumor vascularity or vascular malformations

MRA Pelvis with Gadolinium:

  • Provides 3D visualization of the origin from internal iliac artery, course through greater sciatic foramen, and gluteal anastomoses

  • Essential in preoperative vascular mapping and embolization planning

CT Appearance

Non-contrast CT:

  • Artery seen as small tubular density near greater sciatic notch

  • Often obscured by pelvic muscles without contrast

CT Post-Contrast:

  • Artery enhances clearly as it exits below piriformis

  • Useful for assessing trauma-related bleeding or pelvic hematomas

CT Angiography (CTA):

  • Gold standard for evaluation

  • Multiplanar and 3D reconstructions show arterial origin, course, muscular branches, and pelvic anastomoses

  • Detects aneurysm, stenosis, pseudoaneurysm, or active extravasation in trauma

  • Important for hip surgery, flap planning, and interventional radiology

CT VRT 3D image

Inferior gluteal artery CT 3D VRT anatomy image

CT image

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Inferior gluteal artery ct

MRI image

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