Mesenteric arteries

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Superior mesenteric artery and its branches in humans Image534.png
Superior mesenteric artery and its branches in humans
Inferior mesenteric artery and its branches in humans Inferior mesenteric a.gif
Inferior mesenteric artery and its branches in humans

The mesenteric arteries take blood from the aorta and distribute it to a large portion of the gastrointestinal tract.

Both the superior and inferior mesenteric arteries arise from the abdominal aorta. [1] Each of these arteries travel through the mesentery, within which they branch several times before reaching the gut. In humans, many of these branches are named, but in smaller animals the branches are more variable. In some animals, including humans, branches of these arteries join with the marginal artery of the colon, which means that occlusion of one of the main arteries does not necessarily lead to the death of the part of the gut that it usually supplies.

The term mesenteric artery is also used to describe smaller branches of these vessels which, particularly in smaller animals, provide a significant source of vascular resistance. These branches have a dense innervation by sympathetic nerves, allowing the brain to control their diameter and hence the resistance to blood flow to the gut. This is of particular importance when blood flow is required elsewhere, such as in exercise or shock, where a large proportion of the blood is required to supply the needs of skeletal muscle; by constricting the smaller mesenteric vessels, the resistance of blood flow to the gut increases, and hence blood flows more readily to other organs. [2]

See also

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Circulatory system Organ system for circulating blood in animals

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Duodenum First section of the small intestine

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Small intestine Organ in the gastrointestinal tract

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Abdominal aorta

The abdominal aorta is the largest artery in the abdominal cavity. As part of the aorta, it is a direct continuation of the descending aorta.

Renal artery Vessel supplying blood to kidney

The renal arteries are paired arteries that supply the kidneys with blood. Each is directed across the crus of the diaphragm, so as to form nearly a right angle.

Celiac artery First major branch of the abdominal aorta

The coeliacartery, also known as the coeliac trunk, or truncus coeliacus, is the first major branch of the abdominal aorta. It is about 1.25 cm in length. Branching from the aorta at thoracic vertebra 12 (T12) in humans, it is one of three anterior/ midline branches of the abdominal aorta.

Superior mesenteric artery

In human anatomy, the superior mesenteric artery (SMA) arises from the anterior surface of the abdominal aorta, just inferior to the origin of the celiac trunk, and supplies the intestine from the lower part of the duodenum through two-thirds of the transverse colon, as well as the pancreas.

Inferior mesenteric artery

In human anatomy, the inferior mesenteric artery, often abbreviated as IMA, is the third main branch of the abdominal aorta and arises at the level of L3, supplying the large intestine from the distal transverse colon to the upper part of the anal canal. The regions supplied by the IMA are the descending colon, the sigmoid colon, and part of the rectum.

Superior mesenteric vein

The superior mesenteric vein is a blood vessel that drains blood from the small intestine. Behind the neck of the pancreas, the superior mesenteric vein combines with the splenic vein to form the hepatic portal vein. The superior mesenteric vein lies to the right of the similarly named artery, the superior mesenteric artery, which originates from the abdominal aorta.

Marginal artery of the colon Human artery

In human anatomy, the marginal artery of the colon, also known as the marginal artery of Drummond, the artery of Drummond, and simply as the marginal artery, is an artery that connects the inferior mesenteric artery with the superior mesenteric artery. It is sometimes absent, as an anatomical variant.

Internal iliac artery

The internal iliac artery is the main artery of the pelvis.

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Hepatic portal system

In human anatomy, the hepatic portal system is the system of veins comprising the hepatic portal vein and its tributaries. It is also called the portal venous system and splanchnic veins, which is not synonymous with hepatic portal system and is imprecise.

Sigmoid arteries

The sigmoid arteries, two or three in number, run obliquely downward and to the left behind the peritoneum and in front of the psoas major, ureter, and internal spermatic vessels. They originate from the inferior mesenteric artery branch of the abdominal aorta.

Middle suprarenal arteries

The middle suprarenal arteries are two small vessels which arise, one from either side of the abdominal aorta, opposite the superior mesenteric artery.

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Superior rectal artery

The superior rectal artery is an artery that descends into the pelvis to supply blood to the rectum.

Intercostal arteries Arteries supplying the space between the ribs

The intercostal arteries are a group of arteries that supply the area between the ribs ("costae"), called the intercostal space. The highest intercostal artery is an artery in the human body that usually gives rise to the first and second posterior intercostal arteries, which supply blood to their corresponding intercostal space. It usually arises from the costocervical trunk, which is a branch of the subclavian artery. Some anatomists may contend that there is no supreme intercostal artery, only a supreme intercostal vein.

The superior mesenteric vessels are composed of the superior mesenteric artery and the superior mesenteric vein.

References

  1. Gray, Henry (1918). "5a. 2. The Abdominal Aorta". Anatomy of the Human Body . Retrieved 9 December 2015.
  2. Ceppa, EP; Fuh, KC; Bulkley, GB (April 2003). "Mesenteric hemodynamic response to circulatory shock". Current Opinion in Critical Care. 9 (2): 127–32. doi:10.1097/00075198-200304000-00008. PMID   12657975.