Inferior mesenteric artery (Arteria mesenterica inferior)
Educational content only — not medical advice.
Anatomy
The inferior unpaired visceral branch of the abdominal aorta arising at L3, dividing into the left colic, sigmoidal, and superior rectal arteries to supply the embryonic hindgut.
Clinical notes
Ligated high at its aortic takeoff in oncologic anterior resection for rectal cancer; collateral pathways through Drummond and Riolan arcade preserve left colon viability.
Related structures
Educational references
FAQ
What is the role of the Inferior mesenteric artery?
The inferior unpaired visceral branch of the abdominal aorta arising at L3, dividing into the left colic, sigmoidal, and superior rectal arteries to supply the embryonic hindgut.
Why is the Inferior mesenteric artery clinically important?
Ligated high at its aortic takeoff in oncologic anterior resection for rectal cancer; collateral pathways through Drummond and Riolan arcade preserve left colon viability.
Source & license
BodyParts3D, © The Database Center for Life Science licensed under CC Attribution 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/). license details