Accessory obturator vein

The accessory obturator vein is an unconstant variant venous structure coming from obturator foramen and that drains into the external iliac vein, often found in conjunction with the pubic vein.

The accessory obturator vein can be involved in the formation of the venous corona mortis, a clinically significant anastomosis between the obturator and external iliac vessels or inferior epigastric vessels. It can include arteries and/or veins depending on the patterns that arise during embryogenesis. The venous variant is more common and has been categorized based on drainage from the obturator vein:

• type I drains into the external iliac vein

• type II drains into the inferior epigastric vein

• ype III includes an anastomosis between the obturator vein and the inferior epigastric vein (Fig. 6 demonstrates type I and type II).

Although the venous variant is more common, the arterial variant is often associated with higher hemorrhage risk