Right colic artery

Right colic artery
Right colic artery
	The superior mesenteric artery and its branches. (Right colic visible at center.)
	Colonic blood supply (right colic artery is #4)
Details
Source	Superior mesenteric artery
Vein	Right colic vein
Supplies	Ascending colon
Identifiers
Latin	arteria colica dextra
TA98	A12.2.12.065
TA2	4264
FMA	14811
	Anatomical terminology [ edit on Wikidata]

Last updated February 12, 2024

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).

Structure

The right colic artery is a relatively small and variable artery.^[1] It affords arterial supply to the ascending colon.^[2]

Origin

The right colic artery is a branch of the superior mesenteric artery.^[2]^[3] It usually arises from a common trunk with the middle colic artery, but may also arise directly from the superior mesenteric artery, or from the ileocolic artery.^[4]

Course

It passes right-ward posterior to the peritoneum, and anterior to the right gonadal vessels, the right ureter, the psoas major muscle, passing toward the middle of the ascending colon.^[5]

Sometimes, it lies at a higher level, and crosses the descending part of the duodenum and the inferior extremity of the right kidney.^[6]

At the colon, it divides into a descending branch and an ascending branch. These branches form arches, from the convexity of which vessels are distributed to the ascending colon.^[7]

Branches and anastomoses

The descending branch anastomoses with the ileocolic artery.^[8]

The ascending branch anastomoses with the middle colic artery.^[9]

Variation

The right colic artery is quite variable.^[1] It is absent in around 10% of individuals.^[10]

Clinical significance

In a right hemicolectomy to remove the caecum and the ascending colon, the right colic artery is ligated and removed.^[2]^[11] Ligation is performed close to the origin of the right colic artery from the superior mesenteric artery.^[11]

If part of the superior mesenteric artery is missing due to a congenital abnormality, the right colic artery may supply part of the ileum.^[12]

Related Research Articles

In human anatomy, 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.

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.

The lingual artery arises from the external carotid artery between the superior thyroid artery and facial artery. It can be located easily in the tongue.

The lateral sacral arteries is an artery in the pelvis that arises from the posterior division of the internal iliac artery. It later splits into two smaller branches, a superior and an inferior.

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

The inferior rectal artery is an artery that supplies blood to the lower third of the anal canal below the pectinate line.

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

The right gastroepiploic artery is one of the two terminal branches of the gastroduodenal artery. It runs from right to left along the greater curvature of the stomach, between the layers of the greater omentum, anastomosing with the left gastroepiploic artery, a branch of the splenic artery.

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

The left gastroepiploic artery, the largest branch of the splenic artery, runs from left to right about a finger's breadth or more from the greater curvature of the stomach, between the layers of the greater omentum, and anastomoses with the right gastroepiploic.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sigmoid arteries</span>

The sigmoid arteries are 2–5 branches of the inferior mesenteric artery that are distributed to the distal descending colon and the sigmoid colon.

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

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.

<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">Ascending palatine artery</span>

The ascending palatine artery is an artery is a branch of the facial artery which ascends along the neck before spliting into two terminal branches; one branch supplies the soft palate, and the other supplies the palatine tonsil and pharyngotympanic tube.

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

The superior mesenteric plexus is a continuation of the lower part of the celiac plexus, receiving a branch from the junction of the right vagus nerve with the plexus.

<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">Appendicular artery</span>

The appendicular artery, also known as the appendiceal artery, commonly arises from the terminal branch of the ileocolic artery, or less commonly from the posterior cecal artery or an ileal artery. It descends behind the termination of the ileum and enters the mesoappendix of the vermiform appendix. It runs near the free margin of the mesoappendix and ends in branches which supply the appendix.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Arterial arcades</span>

The arterial arcades are a series of anastomosing arterial arches between the arterial branches of the jejunum and ileum.

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

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

References

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

1 2 Standring, Susan (2020). Gray's Anatomy: The Anatomical Basis of Clinical Practice (42th ed.). New York. p. 1193. ISBN 978-0-7020-7707-4. OCLC 1201341621.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
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.
↑ 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.
↑ Gray's anatomy : the anatomical basis of clinical practice. Susan Standring (Forty-second ed.). [New York]. 2021. ISBN 978-0-7020-7707-4. OCLC 1201341621.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link) CS1 maint: others (link)
↑ Gray, Henry (1918). Gray's Anatomy (20th ed.). p. 609.
↑ Gray, Henry (1918). Gray's Anatomy (20th ed.). p. 609.
↑ Gray, Henry (1918). Gray's Anatomy (20th ed.). p. 609.
↑ Gray, Henry (1918). Gray's Anatomy (20th ed.). p. 609.
↑ Gray, Henry (1918). Gray's Anatomy (20th ed.). p. 609.
↑ 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.
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.
↑ 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.

External links

Anatomy figure: 39:01-04 at Human Anatomy Online, SUNY Downstate Medical Center - "Branches of the superior mesenteric artery."
Anatomy photo:39:03-0102 at the SUNY Downstate Medical Center - "Intestines and Pancreas: Branches of Superior Mesenteric Artery"
Anatomy image:8580 at the SUNY Downstate Medical Center
largeintestine at The Anatomy Lesson by Wesley Norman (Georgetown University)
sup&infmesentericart at The Anatomy Lesson by Wesley Norman (Georgetown University)

This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
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[:224-1] 1 2 Standring, Susan (2020). Gray's Anatomy: The Anatomical Basis of Clinical Practice (42th ed.). New York. p. 1193. ISBN 978-0-7020-7707-4. OCLC 1201341621.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)

[:02-2] 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.

[3] 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.

[:222-4] Gray's anatomy : the anatomical basis of clinical practice. Susan Standring (Forty-second ed.). [New York]. 2021. ISBN 978-0-7020-7707-4. OCLC 1201341621.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link) CS1 maint: others (link)

[:022-5] Gray, Henry (1918). Gray's Anatomy (20th ed.). p. 609.

[:023-6] Gray, Henry (1918). Gray's Anatomy (20th ed.). p. 609.

[:027-7] Gray, Henry (1918). Gray's Anatomy (20th ed.). p. 609.

[:025-8] Gray, Henry (1918). Gray's Anatomy (20th ed.). p. 609.

[:026-9] Gray, Henry (1918). Gray's Anatomy (20th ed.). p. 609.

[10] 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.

[:0-11] 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.

[12] 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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