Abnormal branch of external iliac artery in the iliac fossa

An abnormal artery arising from external iliac artery was found during routine dissection class for medical undergraduates. The artery took its origin from the external iliac artery midway between its origin from common iliac and termination as femoral artery. The abnormal artery divided into two branches; an ascending and a descending. The ascending branch supplied iliacus and iliac crest. The descending branch entered the femoral triangle by passing behind the femoral sheath. It supplied the muscles of femoral triangle and anastomosed with medial circumflex femoral artery. The knowledge of this variation may be of use for surgeons doing surgery of femoral hernia.