A variant source of arterial supply to the ascending, transverse and descending colon. uri icon

Overview

abstract

  • Anatomic variations involving arterial supply of the large intestines are of clinical significance. Variations range from the pattern of origin, branching and territorial supply. The colon, the part of the large intestine, usually receives its arterial blood supply from branches of the superior and inferior mesenteric arteries. However, anatomic variation in this vascular arrangement has been reported, with vascular anatomy of the right colon being described as complex and more variable compared with the left colon. During routine cadaveric dissection of the supracolic and infracolic viscera, we encountered an additional mesenteric artery originating directly from the anterior surface of the abdominal aorta between the origins of the superior and inferior mesenteric arteries. This additional "inferior mesenteric artery" ran obliquely superiorly toward the left colon giving rise to two branches supplying the distal part of the ascending colon, the transverse colon and the proximal part of the descending colon. Awareness and knowledge of this anatomic variation are important for radiologists and surgeons to improve the quality of surgery and avoid both intra- and postoperative complications during surgical procedures of the colon.

publication date

  • April 29, 2019

Research

keywords

  • Anatomic Variation
  • Colon
  • Mesenteric Artery, Inferior
  • Mesenteric Artery, Superior

Identity

PubMed Central ID

  • PMC3496547

Scopus Document Identifier

  • 85065156490

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

  • 10.1007/s00276-019-02245-4

PubMed ID

  • 31037348

Additional Document Info

volume

  • 41

issue

  • 11