During repair of a femoral hernia, the surgeon encounters an abnormal vessel crossing the pelvic brim behind the pubis connecting the external iliac system to the obturator system. Uncontrolled injury to this vessel can cause massive retroperitoneal hemorrhage. This vessel is known as:

• A Artery of Sampson
• B Corona mortis ✓
• C Accessory obturator artery
• D Deep circumflex iliac artery

Explanation

Corona mortis is an anastomosis between the obturator vessels and the external iliac or inferior epigastric vessels crossing the superior pubic ramus. If torn during femoral hernia or pelvic surgery, it retracts and bleeds from both ends, hence the name 'crown of death'. An accessory obturator artery arises from the inferior epigastric and does not describe this anastomotic channel.

Reference: Bailey and Love's Short Practice of Surgery, 27th ed.

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Written and medically reviewed by the StethoPrep medical team.