Sampson’s Artery Revisited

Abstract

This article is a literature review on Sampson's artery. Despite its popularity among gynecologists, not much is known about this artery. It is considered a physiologically insignificant artery located below the round ligament but can serve as a source of severe bleeding. Namesake Dr. John A. Sampson was a predominant gynecologist who studied pelvic anatomy and coined the term "endometriosis". A study at the University of Hawaii John A. Burns School of Medicine revealed that only 41% of medical students were able to identify Sampson's artery. Many anatomy text books fail to acknowledge Sampson's artery, which could explain its obscurity and popularity among gynecologists as a secret artery.