The right and left common iliac arteries are the terminal branches of the aorta. They arise at the level of the 4th lumbar vertebra and run downward and laterally along the medial border of the psoas muscle. Each artery ends in front of the sacroiliac joint by dividing into the external and internal iliac arteries. At the bifurcation, the common iliac artery on each side is crossed anteriorly by the ureter.
Definition