Editing Male Pelvis (section)

=== Venous drainage ===

==== Internal iliac vein ====

* Joined by tributaries corresponding to the branches of the internal iliac artery
* '''Ascends medial and posterior to the artery'''
* Relatively thin walled and at risk for injury during dissection of the artery or the nearby pelvic ureter

==== External iliac vein ====

* '''A continuation of the femoral vein'''
* '''Ascends medial and posterior to its artery'''
* '''Joins the internal iliac vein behind the internal iliac artery'''
* '''Drains the inferior epigastric vein, deep circumflex iliac, and pubic veins'''
* '''In 50% of patients, one or more accessory obturator veins drain into the underside of the external iliac vein''' and can be easily torn during lymphadenectomy