Right colic artery

The right colic artery is an artery of the abdomen. It is a branch of the superior mesenteric artery. It supplies the ascending colon. It may be removed in a right hemicolectomy.

Right colic artery
The superior mesenteric artery and its branches. (Right colic visible at center.)
Colonic blood supply (right colic artery is #4)
Details
SourceSuperior mesenteric artery
VeinRight colic vein
SuppliesAscending colon
Identifiers
LatinArteria colica dextra
TA98A12.2.12.065
TA24264
FMA14811
Anatomical terminology

Structure

The right colic artery is a branch of the superior mesenteric artery.[1][2] It may arise from about the middle of the concavity, or from a stem common to it and the ileocolic.

It passes to the right behind the peritoneum, and in front of the right internal spermatic or ovarian vessels, the right ureter and the psoas major muscle, toward the middle of the ascending colon. Sometimes, it lies at a higher level, and crosses the descending part of the duodenum and the lower end of the right kidney.

At the colon, it divides into a descending branch and an ascending branch. The descending branch anastomoses with the ileocolic artery. The ascending branch anastomoses with the middle colic artery. These branches form arches, from the convexity of which vessels are distributed to the ascending colon.

Variation

The right colic artery is missing in around 10% of people.[3]

Function

The right colic artery supplies the ascending colon.[1]

Clinical significance

In a right hemicolectomy to remove the caecum and the ascending colon, the right colic artery is ligated and removed.[1][4] Ligation is performed close to the origin of the right colic artery from the superior mesenteric artery.[4]

If part of the superior mesenteric artery is missing due to a congenital abnormality, the right colic artery may supply part of the ileum.[5]

References

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

  1. 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. Madani, M. M.; Golts, E. (2014). "Cardiovascular Anatomy". Reference Module in Biomedical Sciences. Elsevier. doi:10.1016/B978-0-12-801238-3.00196-3. ISBN 978-0-12-801238-3.
  3. 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.
  4. 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.
  5. Ziegler, Moritz M.; Garza, Jennifer J. (2004). "Intestinal Atresia". Encyclopedia of Gastroenterology. Academic Press. pp. 443–446. doi:10.1016/B0-12-386860-2/00768-1. ISBN 978-0-12-386860-2.
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