[citation needed] It is the smaller of the two terminal branches of the anterior trunk of the internal iliac artery.

[1] It descends upon the nerves of the sacral plexus and the piriformis muscle, posterior to the internal pudendal artery.

[citation needed] It then descends in the interval between the greater trochanter of the femur and tuberosity of the ischium.

[1] It continues down the back of the thigh, supplying the skin, and anastomosing with branches of the perforating arteries.

[citation needed] The inferior gluteal artery provides arterial supply to the gluteus maximus, obturator internus, quadratus femoris, and (the superior parts of) the hamstring muscles (semimembranosus, semitendinosus, and biceps femoris muscles).