Arteria glutea superior

The superior gluteal artery is the largest and final branch of the internal iliac artery.

It is the continuation of the posterior division of that vessel.

It is a short artery which runs backward between the lumbosacral trunk and the first sacral nerve.

It divides into a superficial and a deep branch after passing out of the pelvis above the upper border of the piriformis muscle. Within the pelvis, it gives off branches to the iliacus, piriformis, and obturator internus muscles.

Just previous to exiting the pelvic cavity, it also gives off a nutrient artery which enters the ilium.