 It ascends obliquely and laterally, posterior to the inguinal ligament, contained in a fibrous sheath formed by the junction of the transversalis fascia and iliac fascia.It travels to the anterior superior iliac spine, where it anastomoses with the ascending branch of the lateral femoral circumflex artery.It then pierces the transversalis fascia and passes medially along the inner lip of the crest of the ilium to a point where it perforates the transversus abdominis muscle.