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 July 19, 2025

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.^[5]

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.^[5]

Branches and anastomoses

The descending branch anastomoses with the ileocolic artery.^[5]

The ascending branch anastomoses with the middle colic artery.^[5]

Variation

The right colic artery is quite variable.^[1] It is absent in around 10% of individuals.^[6]

Clinical significance

In a right hemicolectomy to remove the caecum and the ascending colon, the right colic artery is ligated and removed.^[2]^[7] Ligation is performed close to the origin of the right colic artery from the superior mesenteric artery.^[7]

If part of the superior mesenteric artery is missing due to a congenital abnormality, the right colic artery may supply part of the ileum.^[8]

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)
1 2 3 4 5 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)

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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)

[:026-5] 1 2 3 4 5 Gray, Henry (1918). Gray's Anatomy (20th ed.). p. 609.

[6] 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.

[:0-7] 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.

[8] 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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