The Anatomy of the Superficial External Pudendal Artery: A Quantitative Study

Abstract

The importance of the superficial external pudendal artery in cases of lower limb obstructive arteriopathies has been established, and a perfect knowledge of its anatomy is desirable for the creation of successful flaps involving it. However, little information is available on the morphometry of this artery. PURPOSE: In this study, we conducted a quantitative investigation of the superficial external pudendal artery as the basis for skin grafts. METHOD: Twenty-five right and left sides of the inguinal region of male cadavers were dissected. After retracting the skin at the inguinal region, the femoral vessels and the sapheno-femoral junction were exposed. The following aspects were then analyzed: 1) the presence of the superficial external pudendal artery, 2) the place of origin of the superficial external pudendal artery and the common trunk, 3) the duplication of the superficial external pudendal artery, 4) the distance from the superficial external pudendal artery or the common trunk to the inguinal ligament, and 5) the diameter of the superficial external pudendal artery. RESULTS: The results were the following: 1) superficial external pudendal arteries were found in 46 of 50 sides (92%); 2) they originated from the femoral artery in 45 cases and from the deep femoral artery in only 1 case; 3) the arteries were found duplicated in 21 cases (46%), as a common trunk in 11 cases (24%), and as a single artery in 14 cases (30%); 4) the distance from the superficial external pudendal artery to the inguinal ligament ranged from 0.8 cm to 8.5 cm; from the common trunk, it ranged from 3.5 cm to 6.7 cm; 5) the diameter of the superficial external pudendal artery ranged from 1.2 mm to 3.8 mm; and 6) the diameter of the common trunk ranged from 1.35 mm to 5.15 mm. CONCLUSION: The results show that the superficial external pudendal artery generally originates from the femoral artery. It was found as a common trunk, duplicated, or as a single artery. There was a great variability in both the diameter of the artery and the distance from the artery to the inguinal ligament. Most of the data showed no significant differences between the right and the left sides.

Bases anatomiques des lésions de l’artère pudendale externe lors de la chirurgie des varices du membre pelvien

“…L'origine: Dans notre série, toutes les artères pudendales externes ont pour origine l'artère fémorale commune. LA FALCE [ 13 ] confirme cette origine exclusive sur l'artère fémorale commune, à partir d'une série de dissection de 50 régions inguino-fémorales sur des sujets anatomiques. Par contre, une origine au niveau de l'artère fémorale profonde est décrite par deux auteurs.…”

“…Cette prédominance est retrouvée, ailleurs, avec 77% chez les femmes et 63,7% chez les hommes [ 10 ]. Par contre, La Falce [ 13 ] retrouve une artère pudendale externe unique dans 30% de ses 46 régions inguino-fémorales disséquées. Selon le côté, nous notons une légère prédominance droite, chez les patients qui présentent une artère pudendale externe unique.…”

“…Le tronc artériel unique qui donne deux artères pudendales externes supérieure et inférieure n'est pas fréquent. La Falce [ 13 ] retrouve cette configuration chez 24% de ses dissections. La disposition particulière montrant un tronc artériel qui se divise en trois artères pudendales supérieure, moyenne et inférieure semble exceptionnel, dans la littérature, parce que n'ayant été décrite, une fois, que par un seul auteur [ 10 ].…”

“…Henriet [ 10 ] l'a notée chez 15 patients sur ses 149 patients. Par contre La Falce [ 13 ] l'a remarquée un peu plus fréquemment, avec 21cas sur 46 artères pudendales externes retrouvés. La disposition exceptionnelle illustrée par trois artères pudendales externes supérieure, moyenne et inférieure qui ont des origines séparées sur l'artère fémorale commune a été décrite chez une patiente par un seul auteur [ 10 ].…”

Lower Limb Arteries

“…Superfical external pudendal artery (SEPA) Two studies suggest that this vessel originates from the femoral artery in 98-100% of cases; rarely (0-2%) will it be found as a branch of the profunda femoris Patil et al 1987;La Falce et al 2006). Another anatomic study found that the SEPA has a common origin/trunk with the superficial epigastric artery in 15% of cases.…”