Today we are going to talk about a very important blood vessel system in our body. You may not have heard of this name before. But these help a lot in carrying blood to our legs and pelvis. So let's see what these Iliac Arteries are, what is their importance, and how to keep them healthy.
Do you know what the Iliac Arteries are?
Simply put, the Iliac Arteries are a type of blood vessel that supplies blood to our legs, pelvis, and related organs. Think of it this way: the largest blood vessel that starts at our heart, the aorta , is like the main pipe from a water tank. This aorta then branches down into two major branches in the abdomen, the abdominal aorta . These two branches are called the Iliac Arteries.
These are also called peripheral arteries . That means they are a little further from the heart, because they supply blood to the peripheral parts of the body. Our pelvis is where the upper body and legs meet. So the reproductive organs and other important organs in that area receive blood from these iliac arteries.
What are the benefits of these Iliac Arteries to our body?
The iliac arteries play a very important role in our circulatory system. They carry oxygenated and nutrient-rich blood mainly to the following areas:
- For the muscles in the back and abdomen
- Our lower body, that is, our legs, feet, hips, buttocks, and thighs
- To the organs of the female and male reproductive systems
- It also supplies blood to other organs in the pelvic cavity, such as the bladder, intestines, liver, and pancreas.
Just think, if these iliac arteries don't work properly, these organs may not receive the required amount of blood. Then many problems can arise.
Where are the iliac arteries located? How do they divide?
There are two main iliac arteries in our body. One on the right side (Right Common Iliac Artery) and the other on the left side (Left Common Iliac Artery). Both of these start where the abdominal part of the aorta ends (Abdominal Aorta), that is, at about the level of our belly button.
Both of these common iliac arteries , starting from the aorta, travel about an inch (about 3 centimeters) down and then divide into two more branches. These are:
1. Internal Iliac Artery
2. External Iliac Artery
These small branches divide into smaller arteries that carry blood to various parts of our lower body. This is just like a tree that starts at the trunk and branches out, then branches out into smaller branches and goes to the leaves.
Let's learn about the External Iliac Arteries.
The External Iliac Arteries are the largest branches that branch off from the common iliac artery. These are the ones that become the femoral arteries that go directly to our legs. So, it is these External Iliac Arteries that mainly supply blood to our legs and feet.
Two other major branches divide from these External Iliac Arteries:
- Deep Circumflex Arteries: These supply blood to the muscles on the sides of our abdomen (core muscles).
- Inferior Epigastric Arteries: These supply blood to the muscles at the front of our stomach, which some call the "six-pack muscles."
Let's also look at the Internal Iliac Arteries.
The Internal Iliac Arteries are the main blood supply to the organs inside the pelvic cavity. These divide into many smaller branches. Some of these are anterior branches, and some are posterior branches. During pregnancy, two special arteries in the umbilical cord are also connected to these internal iliac arteries.
The main areas that receive blood from these internal iliac arteries are:
- Back muscles
- Pelvic floor and pelvic organs
- Rectum
- Reproductive organs
- Thighs, hips, and buttocks areas
What diseases affect the Iliac Arteries?
Like other blood vessels, the iliac arteries can also develop certain diseases. Some of these are:
- Atherosclerosis: This is a very common problem. Things like oil and cholesterol build up in our blood vessels and form a film (plaque). Think of it like rust and dirt build up in a water pipe over time and clog the pipe. This is the same thing. This narrows the blood flow and reduces blood flow.
- Peripheral Artery Disease (PAD): When the iliac arteries become narrowed due to atherosclerosis, the amount of blood flowing to the legs and feet decreases. This is called PAD . This can cause pain in the legs when walking, and numbness in the legs. If this condition worsens, it increases the risk of serious conditions such as stroke and heart attack. Sometimes, wounds in the legs do not heal, and there are cases where the leg has to be amputated.
- Iliac Artery Stenosis: Some people have a rare blood vessel disease called Fibromuscular Dysplasia (FMD) . This causes the iliac arteries to become stiff and narrow. They are also more likely to rupture (dissections) or weaken and bulge (aneurysms) .
- May-Thurner Syndrome: Also known as iliac vein compression syndrome, this condition occurs when the right common iliac artery compresses the left common iliac vein against the spine. This increases the risk of blood clots in the deep veins of the legs (Deep Vein Thrombosis - DVT) .
If you have symptoms like these, it is very important to seek medical advice immediately, as early treatment can prevent more serious conditions.
What should we do to keep our Iliac Arteries healthy?
Fortunately, by making some lifestyle changes, we can keep our iliac arteries healthy and protect ourselves from diseases like PAD. See if you can do these things:
- Be physically active most days of the week: Walking and exercising for at least 30 minutes a day is great.
- Eat a heart-healthy diet: Eat foods low in oil, cholesterol, and salt. Eat more vegetables, fruits, whole grains, and fiber-rich foods.
- Manage stress: Relax your mind by doing things like meditating, going for a walk with a friend, or engaging in a hobby you enjoy.
- Maintain a healthy weight: Try to maintain a weight that is appropriate for your height.
- If you have diseases like Diabetes Mellitus, High Blood Pressure, and High Cholesterol, control them well: Take the medication prescribed by your doctor and follow his instructions.
- If you smoke, quit completely: Smoking is very bad for your blood vessels. Quitting is the biggest help you can do for your body.
What time do you need to see a doctor?
If you have any of these symptoms, it is important to see a doctor for advice:
- If you have difficulty walking, especially if you experience pain in your legs when walking, and then are able to walk again after a while (this is called Intermittent Claudication).
- If you have wounds on your legs or feet that are not healing.
- If you experience pain in your legs not only when walking, but also when sleeping.
If you are at risk for problems with your iliac arteries, such as PAD (for example, diabetes, high cholesterol, smoking), if your legs hurt when you walk, or if you develop wounds on your legs that don't heal, you should definitely see a doctor. Not all leg pain is caused by PAD. So don't panic. Your doctor can do simple, noninvasive tests to check how your blood is flowing to your legs and make an accurate diagnosis.
Take-Home Message
Okay, so here are some things you need to remember from what we've talked about today:
- The Iliac Arteries are a very important system of blood vessels that supply blood to our legs, pelvis, and related organs.
- Atherosclerosis can lead to conditions like peripheral artery disease (PAD) , which can cause problems like leg pain when walking.
- By following a healthy lifestyle (good diet, exercise, and avoiding smoking), you can keep these iliac arteries healthy.
- If you have unusual pain in your legs or wounds that do not heal, do not delay seeking medical advice.
So, I hope you are now aware of this small but very important part of your body. To stay healthy, we need to take care of every part of our body, right?
` Iliac Arteries, Blood Vessels, Peripheral Artery Disease, PAD, Atherosclerosis, Leg Pain, Pelvis
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