The posterior division of the internal iliac artery provides arterial blood supply to the parietal structures of the pelvis and gluteal area. This trunk gives off fewer branches than the other - the anterior division of the internal iliac artery.

Overall, the posterior division gives rise to the following arteries:

Iliolumbar artery (Read more!) - after it arises, it goes in a superoposterior direction, divides into three branches and supplies the posterior abdominal wall, psoas major, lumbar portion of the erector spinae, iliacus muscle, and iliac bone; it forms anastomoses with the superior gluteal artery and deep circumflex iliac artery;
Lateral sacral arteries (Read more!) - these arteries can present in two ways - either as a common trunk that divides into two branches or as two separate arteries arising from the posterior trunk; the superior artery may be larger than the inferior one; they supply the surrounding musculoskeletal structures, spinal meninges, and the sacral canal;
Superior gluteal artery (Read more!) - the largest branch of the posterior division and also the terminal branch of this division; exits the true pelvis via the greater sciatic foramen above the piriformis muscle and divides into superficial branch and deep branch; supplies the gluteal region and pelvic wall.

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Posterior division of internal iliac artery