Middle colic artery

Middle colic artery
The superior mesenteric artery and its branches. (Middle colic visible at center top.)
Colonic blood supply (Middle colic artery is #6)
Details
Sourcesuperior mesenteric artery
VeinMiddle colic vein
Suppliestransverse colon
Identifiers
Latinarteria colica media
TA98A12.2.12.067
TA24265
FMA14810
Anatomical terminology

The middle colic artery is an artery of the abdomen. It is a branch of the superior mesenteric artery that mostly supplies the transverse colon. Parts of it may be removed in different types of hemicolectomy.

Structure

The middle colic artery is a branch of the superior mesenteric artery.[1] It arises just below the pancreas. It passes inferiorly and anteriorly between the layers of the transverse mesocolon.[1] It divides into left and right branches. The right branch anastomoses with the right colic artery. The left anastomoses with the left colic artery, a branch of the inferior mesenteric artery (forming the arc of Riolan).[2] This sequence of anastomoses help to form the marginal artery of the colon.[1] The arches formed are about two fingers’ breadth from the transverse colon, to which they distribute branches.

Variation

The middle colic artery may rarely originate from the splenic artery.[3] An extra accessory middle colic artery can be found in between 10% and 20% of people.[2]

Function

The middle colic artery supplies the right two thirds of the transverse colon, and an upper part of the ascending colon.[1]

Clinical significance

In a right hemicolectomy to remove the caecum and the ascending colon, the right branch of the middle colic artery is ligated and removed.[1][4] In a transverse hemicolectomy, the entire middle colic artery may need to be ligated and removed.[4]

See also

References

Public domain This article incorporates text in the public domain from page 609 of the 20th edition of Gray's Anatomy (1918)

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 Jacob, S. (2008). "4 - Abdomen". Human Anatomy. Churchill Livingstone. pp. 71–123. doi:10.1016/B978-0-443-10373-5.50007-5. ISBN 978-0-443-10373-5.
  2. 1 2 Mazzucchelli, Luca; Maurer, Christoph (2004). "Colon, Anatomy". Encyclopedia of Gastroenterology. Academic Press. pp. 408–412. doi:10.1016/B0-12-386860-2/00147-7. ISBN 978-0-12-386860-2.
  3. ↑ Amonoo-Kuofi, Harold S.; El-Badawi, Mohamed G. Y.; El-Naggar, Mahmoud E. (1995). "Anomalous origins of colic arteries". Clinical Anatomy. 8 (4): 288–293. doi:10.1002/ca.980080408. ISSN 1098-2353.
  4. 1 2 Ramsanahie, Anthony; Bleday, Ronald (2004). "Colectomy". Encyclopedia of Gastroenterology. Academic Press. pp. 366–371. doi:10.1016/B0-12-386860-2/00140-4. ISBN 978-0-12-386860-2.
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