internal pudendal artery internal pudendal artery the internal pudendal artery is one of the three pudendal arteries. it branches off the internal iliac artery, and provides blood to the external genitalia. internal pudendal arteryinternal iliac artery with branches, including internal pudendal artery.the superficial branches of the internal pudendal artery.detailssourceinternal iliac arteryveininternal pudendal veinssuppliesexternal genitalia, perineumidentifierslatinarteria pudenda internata98a12.2.15.038ta24341fma18835anatomical terminology structure the internal pudendal artery is the terminal branch of the anterior trunk of the internal iliac artery. it is smaller in the female than in the male. path it arises from the anterior division of internal iliac artery. it runs on the lateral pelvic wall. it exits the pelvic cavity through the greater sciatic foramen, inferior to the piriformis muscle, to enter the gluteal region. it then curves around the sacrospinous ligament to enter the perineum through the lesser sciatic foramen. it travels through the pudendal canal with the internal pudendal veins and the pudendal nerve. branches the internal pudendal artery gives off the following branches: in femalesin malesdescription inferior rectal arteryinferior rectal arteryto anal canal perineal arteryperineal arterysupplies transversus perinei superficialis muscle posterior labial branchesposterior scrotal branches- artery of bulb of vestibuleartery of bulb of penissupplies bulb of vestibule/bulb of penis dorsal artery of clitorisdorsal artery of the penis- deep artery of clitorisdeep artery of the penisto corpus cavernosum penis the deep artery of clitoris is a branch of the internal pudendal artery and supplies the clitoral crura. another branch of the internal pudendal artery is the dorsal artery of clitoris. some sources consider the urethral artery a direct branch of the internal pudendal artery, while others consider it a branch of the perineal artery. in males, the internal pudendal artery also gives rise to the perforating arteries of the penis. variation around 70% of men have an accessory internal pudendal artery. this usually does not originate from the internal iliac artery, instead originating from the external iliac artery, the obturator artery, or the vesical arteries. function the internal pudendal artery supplies blood to the external genitalia. clinical significance in women, the internal pudendal artery may be damaged during childbirth. this may cause a haematoma, which usually resolves without treatment, but may form an infected abscess. additional images right hip bone. internal surface. dissection of side wall of pelvis showing sacral and pudendal plexuses. the deeper branches of the internal pudendal artery. diagram of the arteries of the penis. the penis in transverse section, showing the bloodvessels. internal pudental artery.deep dissection. lateral view.