The middle colic artery is an

artery An artery () is a blood vessel in humans and most other animals that takes oxygenated blood away from the heart in the systemic circulation to one or more parts of the body. Exceptions that carry deoxygenated blood are the pulmonary arteries in ...

of the

abdomen The abdomen (colloquially called the gut, belly, tummy, midriff, tucky, or stomach) is the front part of the torso between the thorax (chest) and pelvis in humans and in other vertebrates. The area occupied by the abdomen is called the abdominal ...

; a branch of the

superior mesenteric artery 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 ...

distributed to parts of the ascending and

transverse colon In human anatomy, the transverse colon is the longest and most movable part of the Large intestine#Structure, colon. Anatomical position It crosses the abdomen from the ascending colon at the right colic flexure (hepatic flexure) with a downward ...

. 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 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 ...

, and right colic artery (respectively), thus participating in the formation of the

marginal artery of the colon In human anatomy, the marginal artery of the colon, also known as the marginal artery of Drummond, the artery of Drummond, and simply as the marginal artery, is an artery that connects the inferior mesenteric artery with the superior mesenteric ar ...

. Parts of the artery may be removed in different types of

hemicolectomy Colectomy ('' col-'' + '' -ectomy'') is the surgical removal of any extent of the colon, the longest portion of the large bowel. Colectomy may be performed for prophylactic, curative, or palliative reasons. Indications include cancer, infection, ...

Structure

The middle colic artery supplies the superior/distal part of the

ascending colon In the anatomy of humans and homologous primates, the ascending colon is the part of the colon located between the cecum and the transverse colon. Characteristics and structure The ascending colon is smaller in calibre than the cecum from wh ...

and right/proximal two-thirds of the

Origin

The middle colic artery is a branch of the

, branching off from its right aspect. Its origin is situated just inferior the neck of the

pancreas The pancreas (plural pancreases, or pancreata) is an Organ (anatomy), organ of the Digestion, digestive system and endocrine system of vertebrates. In humans, it is located in the abdominal cavity, abdomen behind the stomach and functions as a ...

. It may share a common origin with the right colic artery.

Course

The middle colic artery passes anterosuperiorly between the layers of the

transverse mesocolon In human anatomy, the mesentery is an organ that attaches the intestines to the posterior abdominal wall, consisting of a double fold of the peritoneum. It helps (among other functions) in storing fat and allowing blood vessels, lymphatics, a ...

just right of the midline before dividing into left and right terminal branches.

Branches and anastomoses

The anastomotic arches formed by the left and right branches of the middle colic artery are about two fingers' breadth from the

, to which they distribute branches. The sequence of anastomoses of the branches of the middle colic artery constitutes part of the

Left branch

The left branch anastomoses with a branch of the

(in turn a branch of the

inferior mesenteric artery 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 region ...

) near the

left colic flexure 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. Stru ...

, forming the arc of Riolan.

Right branch

The right branch anastomoses with the ascending branch of the right colic artery.

Variation

Alternate origin The middle colic artery may rarely instead arise from the

abdominal aorta 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 (of the thorax). Structure The abdominal aorta begins at the level of the diaphragm ...

, dorsal pancreatic artery,

hepatic artery proper The hepatic artery proper (also proper hepatic artery) is the artery that supplies the liver and gallbladder. It raises from the common hepatic artery, a branch of the celiac artery. Structure The hepatic artery proper arises from the common ...

, or

splenic artery In human anatomy, the splenic artery or lienal artery, an older term, is the blood vessel that supplies oxygenated blood to the spleen. It branches from the celiac artery, and follows a course superior to the pancreas. It is known for its tortuo ...

. Accessory middle colic artery An accessory middle colic artery in encountered in 10-20% of individuals. The accessory artery may arise from the superior mesenteric artery proximal to the middle colic artery proper, and from the

, dorsal pancreatic artery,

, or

. An accessory middle colic directly originated from the superior mesenteric artery occurred in 18% of individuals. Number of terminal branches The middle colic artery may occasionally divide into 3 or more branches (in which case the two lateral-most branches are the ones forming the anastomoses).

Clinical significance

In a right

to remove the

caecum The cecum ( caecum, ; plural ceca or caeca, ) is a pouch within the peritoneum that is considered to be the beginning of the large intestine. It is typically located on the right side of the body (the same side of the body as the appendix, ...

and the

, the right branch of the middle colic artery is ligated and removed. In a transverse hemicolectomy, the entire middle colic artery may need to be ligated and removed.

References

External links

* - "Intestines and Pancreas: Branches of Superior Mesenteric Artery" * * {{Authority control Arteries of the abdomen Large intestine