Middle colic artery

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
Source	superior mesenteric artery
Vein	Middle colic vein
Supplies	transverse colon
Identifiers
Latin	arteria colica media
TA98	A12.2.12.067
TA2	4265
FMA	14810
	Anatomical terminology [ edit on Wikidata]

Last updated October 18, 2023

The middle colic artery is an artery of the abdomen; a branch of the superior mesenteric artery distributed to parts of the ascending and transverse colon. It usually divides into two terminal branches - a left one and a right one - which go on to form anastomoses with the left colic artery, and right colic artery (respectively), thus participating in the formation of the marginal artery of the colon.

Structure

The middle colic artery supplies the superior/distal part of the ascending colon and right/proximal two-thirds of the transverse colon.^[1]

Origin

The middle colic artery is a branch of the superior mesenteric artery, branching off from its right aspect. Its origin is situated just inferior the neck of the pancreas. It may share a common origin with the right colic artery.^[2]

Course

The middle colic artery passes anterosuperiorly between the layers of the transverse mesocolon just right of the midline before dividing into left and right terminal branches.^[2]

Branches and anastomoses

The anastomotic arches formed by the left and right branches of the middle colic artery are about two fingers' breadth from the transverse colon, to which they distribute branches.^[3]

The sequence of anastomoses of the branches of the middle colic artery constitutes part of the marginal artery of the colon.^[1]

Left branch

The left branch anastomoses with a branch of the left colic artery (in turn a branch of the inferior mesenteric artery ^[4]) near the left colic flexure,^[2] forming the arc of Riolan.^[4]

Right branch

The right branch anastomoses with the ascending branch of the right colic artery.^[2]

Variation

Alternate origin

The middle colic artery may rarely instead arise from the abdominal aorta, inferior mesenteric artery, dorsal pancreatic artery, hepatic artery proper, left colic artery,^[2] or splenic artery.

Accessory middle colic artery

An accessory middle colic artery in encountered in 10-20% of individuals.^[4] The accessory artery may arise from the superior mesenteric artery proximal to the middle colic artery proper, and from the abdominal aorta, inferior mesenteric artery, dorsal pancreatic artery, hepatic artery proper, or left colic artery.^[2] An accessory middle colic directly originated from the superior mesenteric artery occurred in 18% of individuals.^[5]

Number of terminal branches

The middle colic artery may occasionally divide into 3 or more branches (in which case the two lateral-most branches are the ones forming the anastomoses).^[2]

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]^[6] In a transverse hemicolectomy, the entire middle colic artery may need to be ligated and removed.^[6]

Related Research Articles

The portal vein or hepatic portal vein (HPV) is a blood vessel that carries blood from the gastrointestinal tract, gallbladder, pancreas and spleen to the liver. This blood contains nutrients and toxins extracted from digested contents. Approximately 75% of total liver blood flow is through the portal vein, with the remainder coming from the hepatic artery proper. The blood leaves the liver to the heart in the hepatic veins.

The mesentery is an organ that attaches the intestines to the posterior abdominal wall and is formed by the double fold of peritoneum. It helps in storing fat and allowing blood vessels, lymphatics, and nerves to supply the intestines, among other functions.

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Celiac artery</span> First major branch of the abdominal aorta

The celiacartery, also known as the celiac 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.

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

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Inferior mesenteric artery</span>

In human anatomy, the inferior mesenteric artery (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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Superior mesenteric vein</span> Vein which drains blood from the small intestine

In human anatomy, the superior mesenteric vein (SMV) 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 portal vein that carries blood to the liver. The superior mesenteric vein lies to the right of the similarly named artery, the superior mesenteric artery, which originates from the abdominal aorta.

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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Inferior mesenteric vein</span> Vein which drains blood from the large intestine

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cystic artery</span>

The cystic artery is (usually) a branch of the right hepatic artery that provides arterial supply to the gallbladder and contributes arterial supply to the extrahepatic bile ducts.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Right colic artery</span> Artery supplying the colon

The right colic artery is an artery of the abdomen, a branch of the superior mesenteric artery supplying the ascending colon. It divides into two terminal branches - an ascending branch and a descending branch - which form anastomoses with the middle colic artery, and ileocolic artery (respectively).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Left colic artery</span> Artery

The left colic artery is a branch of the inferior mesenteric artery distributed to the descending colon, and left part of the transverse colon. It ends by dividing into an ascending branch and a descending branch; the terminal branches of the two branches go on to form anastomoses with the middle colic artery, and a sigmoid artery (respectively).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ileocolic artery</span> Artery in the abdomen

The ileocolic artery is the lowest branch arising from the concavity of the superior mesenteric artery. It supplies the cecum, ileum, and appendix.

In the anatomy of the human digestive tract, there are two colic flexures, or curvatures in the transverse colon. The right colic flexure is also known as the hepatic flexure, and the left colic flexure is also known as the splenic flexure. Note that "right" refers to the patient's anatomical right, which may be depicted on the left of a diagram.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Transverse colon</span> Longest section of the large intestine

In human anatomy, the transverse colon is the longest and most movable part of the colon.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Superior rectal artery</span>

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

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pancreatic branches of splenic artery</span>

The pancreatic branches or pancreatic arteries are numerous small vessels derived from the splenic artery as it runs behind the upper border of the pancreas, supplying its body and tail.

In anatomy, arterial tree is used to refer to all arteries and/or the branching pattern of the arteries. This article regards the human arterial tree. Starting from the aorta:

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Superior mesenteric lymph nodes</span>

The superior mesenteric lymph nodes may be divided into three principal groups:

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

References

1 2 3 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.
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Standring, Susan (2020). Gray's Anatomy: The Anatomical Basis of Clinical Practice (42nd ed.). New York. p. 1193. ISBN 978-0-7020-7707-4. OCLC 1201341621.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
↑ Gray, Henry (1918). Gray's Anatomy (20th ed.). p. 609.
1 2 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.
↑ Zou, Jiaxin; Jiang, Xiaofeng; Feng, Jubin; Cai, Jiawei; Kong, Decan; Cao, Wuteng; Zhao, Hengyu; Zhu, Dongyun; Meng, Xiaochun; Ke, Jia (2022-03-01). "Anatomical variations of the branches from left colic artery and middle colic artery at splenic flexure". Surgical and Radiologic Anatomy. 44 (3): 467–473. doi:10.1007/s00276-022-02898-8. ISSN 1279-8517. PMID 35230505. S2CID 247160576.
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.

External links

Anatomy photo:39:03-0101 at the SUNY Downstate Medical Center - "Intestines and Pancreas: Branches of Superior Mesenteric Artery"
Anatomy image:8579 at the SUNY Downstate Medical Center
sup&infmesentericart at The Anatomy Lesson by Wesley Norman (Georgetown University)

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[:0-1] 1 2 3 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.

[:2245-2] 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Standring, Susan (2020). Gray's Anatomy: The Anatomical Basis of Clinical Practice (42nd ed.). New York. p. 1193. ISBN 978-0-7020-7707-4. OCLC 1201341621.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)

[:02-3] Gray, Henry (1918). Gray's Anatomy (20th ed.). p. 609.

[:1-4] 1 2 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.

[5] Zou, Jiaxin; Jiang, Xiaofeng; Feng, Jubin; Cai, Jiawei; Kong, Decan; Cao, Wuteng; Zhao, Hengyu; Zhu, Dongyun; Meng, Xiaochun; Ke, Jia (2022-03-01). "Anatomical variations of the branches from left colic artery and middle colic artery at splenic flexure". Surgical and Radiologic Anatomy. 44 (3): 467–473. doi:10.1007/s00276-022-02898-8. ISSN 1279-8517. PMID 35230505. S2CID 247160576.

[:2-6] 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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