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 man 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 either iliac artery that passes beneath Poupart's ligament to become the femoral artery — called also external iliac artery
3. : the inner branch of either common iliac artery that soon breaks into several branches and supplies blood chiefly to the pelvic and gluteal areas — called also hypogastric artery, internal iliac artery