Inferior mesenteric artery

The inferior mesenteric artery ( " lower visceral artery " ) is a large unpaired artery of the abdominal cavity. It originates in man from the abdominal aorta at the level of the third lumbar vertebra. It supplies the descending colon and upper part of the rectum. In the veterinary anatomy it is due to the different body orientation as caudal mesenteric artery ( " posterior intestines artery " ) referred.

From the inferior mesenteric artery / caudalis arise:

• Artery middle colic artery (left colonic artery): It divides into an ascending and a descending branch.
• Arteries sigmoid ( sigmoid colon arteries): In general, are presented in the literature three A. sigmoid. It can also vary two of them inferior spring with a common initial segment of the mesenteric artery. The mean sigmoid artery divides usually into two branches, which anastomose arcade -like at the level of the other arcades of the sigmoid artery arcades arch.
• Superior rectal artery (upper Rektumsarterie ) ( Animals: cranial rectal artery ): It divides into two branches that follow the sides of the rectum.

The inferior mesenteric artery is connected via the Riolan anastomosis with the superior mesenteric artery.