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Inferior mesenteric artery

The artery of the hindgut. Arises at L3 and runs slightly to the left of the aorta.

Anatomy · Vascular anatomy

Inferior Mesenteric Artery

  1. Origin:
    1. The Inferior Mesenteric Artery is an anterolateral branch of the Aorta
    2. Originates behind the first part of the Duodenum
    3. Below the Renal Arteries and Above the Common Iliac Bifurcation
  2. Branches
    1. Left Colic Artery
    2. Signoid Artery
    3. Superior Rectal Artery
    4. Marginal Artery of Drummond
  3. Supply
    1. The Inferior Mesenteric Artery supplies the embryological Hindgut:
      1. Distal Half of Transverse Colon
      2. Descending Colon
      3. Sigmoid Colon
      4. Superior Part of the Rectum (Above the Pectinate Line)
  4. Anastomoses
    1. Descending Branch of the Left Colic Artery and the First Branch of the Sigmoid Artery
    2. Marginal Artery of Drummond: Anastomoses between the Superior and Inferior Mesenteric Artery
      1. Middle Colic Artery (From SMA) and the Ascending Branch of the Left Colic Artery (From IMA)

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Inferior Mesenteric Artery (Branches)

  • Left Colic Artery
    • Branches
      • Ascending Branch
        • Anastomoses with the Middle Colic Artery
      • Descending Branch
        • Anastomoses with the First Sigmoid Artery
    • Supply
      • Superior part of the descending colon
  • Sigmoid Artery
    • Branches
      • 3 Branches
        • First Branch
        • Second Branch
        • Third Branch
    • Supply
      • Inferior Part of the Descending Colon
      • Sigmoid Colon
  • Superior Rectal Artery
    • Supply
      • Rectum (Above the Pectinate Line)
    • Branches
      • Anterior Superior Rectal Artery
      • Posterior Superior Rectal Artery

      Anastomose with the Middle and Inferior Rectal Artery → Supply the Anal Canal below the pectinate line

  • Marginal Artery of Drummond
    • Formation
      • Superior Mesenteric Artery
      • Inferior Mesenteric Artery

      Their terminal branches anastomose to form the Marginal Artery of Drummond

First Branch ↔ Anastomoses with the First Sigmoid Artery: Anastomosis

Anastomoses with the Middle Colic Artery ↔ Their terminal branches anastomose to form the Marginal Artery of Drummond: Anastomosis to form the Marginal Artery of Drummond

Written by Dr Aparajeya Shanker, MD

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