Which pair of arteries originates from the common iliac artery?

• A. Internal and External Iliac Arteries
• B. Anterior Cerebral Artery and Middle Cerebral Artery
• C. Renal Artery and Ovarian Artery
• D. Maxillary Artery and Facial Artery

Answer: (A)

From the common iliac artery branching, the two arteries that come off are the internal iliac and the external iliac. The common iliac arteries are the major vessels that split from the abdominal aorta around the lower abdomen; their divisions feed different regions: the internal iliac supplies pelvic structures and nearby tissues, while the external iliac continues downward and becomes the femoral artery as it passes under the inguinal ligament to supply the lower limb. The other options involve arteries that arise from different primary vessels—cerebral arteries from the carotid system, renal and ovarian arteries from the abdominal aorta, and the maxillary and facial arteries from the external carotid—so they don’t originate from the common iliac.