The right 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 ...

supplying 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 ...

. It divides into two terminal branches - an ascending branch and a descending branch - which form anastomoses with the

middle colic artery 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 ...

, and

ileocolic artery The ileocolic artery is the lowest branch arising from the concavity of the superior mesenteric artery. It supplies the cecum, ileum, and appendix. It passes downward and to the right behind the peritoneum toward the right iliac fossa, where it d ...

(respectively). The right colic artery may be removed during a right

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 right colic artery is a relatively small and variable artery. It affords arterial supply to the

Origin

The right colic artery is a branch of the

. It usually arises from a common trunk with the

, but may also arise directly from the superior mesenteric artery, or from the

Course

It passes right-ward posterior to the

peritoneum The peritoneum is the serous membrane forming the lining of the abdominal cavity or coelom in amniotes and some invertebrates, such as annelids. It covers most of the intra-abdominal (or coelomic) organs, and is composed of a layer of mesotheli ...

, and anterior to the right gonadal vessels, the right

ureter The ureters are tubes composed of smooth muscle that transport urine from the kidneys to the urinary bladder. In an adult human, the ureters typically measure 20 to 30 centimeters in length and about 3 to 4 millimeters in diameter. They are lin ...

, the

psoas major muscle The psoas major ( or ; from ) is a long fusiform muscle located in the lateral lumbar region between the vertebral column and the brim of the lesser pelvis. It joins the iliacus muscle to form the iliopsoas. In other animals, this muscle is equ ...

, passing toward the middle of the

. Sometimes, it lies at a higher level, and crosses the descending part of the

duodenum The duodenum is the first section of the small intestine in most vertebrates, including mammals, reptiles, and birds. In mammals, it may be the principal site for iron absorption. The duodenum precedes the jejunum and ileum and is the shortest p ...

and the inferior extremity of the right

kidney In humans, the kidneys are two reddish-brown bean-shaped blood-filtering organ (anatomy), organs that are a multilobar, multipapillary form of mammalian kidneys, usually without signs of external lobulation. They are located on the left and rig ...

. 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

Branches and anastomoses

The descending branch anastomoses with the

. The ascending branch anastomoses with the

Variation

The right colic artery is quite variable. It is absent in around 10% of individuals.

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 colic artery is ligated and removed. Ligation is performed close to the origin of the right colic artery from the superior mesenteric artery. If part of the

is missing due to a congenital abnormality, the right colic artery may supply part of the

ileum The ileum () is the final section of the small intestine in most higher vertebrates, including mammals, reptiles, and birds. In fish, the divisions of the small intestine are not as clear and the terms posterior intestine or distal intestine may ...

References

External links

* - "Branches of the superior mesenteric artery." * - "Intestines and Pancreas: Branches of Superior Mesenteric Artery" * * * {{Authority control Arteries of the abdomen