An indirect inguinal hernia passes lateral to the inferior epigastric vessels. The inferior epigastric artery is a direct branch of which vessel?

• A Internal iliac artery
• B Femoral artery
• C External iliac artery ✓
• D Deep circumflex iliac artery

Explanation

The inferior epigastric artery arises from the external iliac artery just above the inguinal ligament and ascends medial to the deep inguinal ring, entering the rectus sheath. Its position relative to the ring classifies groin hernias: indirect hernias pass lateral to it, direct hernias pass medial to it (Hesselbach triangle). The internal iliac artery gives the obturator and vesical branches, and the deep circumflex iliac runs laterally, none supplying the rectus abdominis.

Reference: Gray's Anatomy for Students, 4th ed.

High-yield for: NEET PGINI-CETNExTFMGEUSMLEPLABMRCP

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