Right colic artery

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Right colic artery
Gray534.png
The superior mesenteric artery and its branches. (Right colic visible at center.)
Colonic blood supply.svg
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

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).

Contents

The right colic artery may be removed during a right hemicolectomy.

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

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Superior mesenteric artery</span> Artery which supplies blood to the intestines and pancreas

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> Branch of the abdominal aorta supplying part of the large intestine

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.

<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">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">Circumflex scapular artery</span> Artery of the upper body

The circumflex scapular artery is a branch of the subscapular artery and part of the scapular anastomoses.

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

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<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">Inferior thyroid artery</span> Artery of the neck

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<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.

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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.

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<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">Testicular artery</span> Branch of the abdominal aorta that supplies blood to the testicle

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

The left colic vein is a vein that drains the left colic flexure and descending colon. It empties into the inferior mesenteric vein. It accompanies the left colic artery.

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

References

PD-icon.svgThis article incorporates text in the public domain from page 609 of the 20th edition of Gray's Anatomy (1918)

  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)
  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.
  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)
  5. ↑ Gray, Henry (1918). Gray's Anatomy (20th ed.). p. 609.
  6. ↑ Gray, Henry (1918). Gray's Anatomy (20th ed.). p. 609.
  7. ↑ Gray, Henry (1918). Gray's Anatomy (20th ed.). p. 609.
  8. ↑ Gray, Henry (1918). Gray's Anatomy (20th ed.). p. 609.
  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.
  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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