Ascending branch of left colic artery
Ramus ascendens arteriae colicae sinistrae
The upper branch of the left colic artery, climbing behind the peritoneum towards the splenic flexure of the colon.
At a glance
- English
- Ascending branch of left colic artery
- Latin (TA2)
- Ramus ascendens arteriae colicae sinistrae
- System
- Artery
- Region
- Trunk
- Side
- Single, on the midline
About the ascending branch of left colic artery
The left colic artery is the first branch of the inferior mesenteric artery. It runs to the left behind the peritoneum of the posterior abdominal wall and soon splits into an ascending and a descending branch. The ascending branch carries hindgut blood upwards to the far end of the transverse colon.
From the split it climbs in front of the left kidney towards the splenic flexure, the bend where the transverse colon turns down into the descending colon. Near the flexure it passes into the transverse mesocolon and joins the left branch of the middle colic artery, a branch of the superior mesenteric artery. This junction links the midgut and hindgut supplies.
Small vessels leave it for the upper descending colon, the splenic flexure and the left part of the transverse colon. Together with the other colic branches it helps build the marginal artery, the continuous chain of vessels that runs along the inner edge of the colon and sends short straight arteries into the bowel wall.
The splenic flexure lies at the boundary between superior and inferior mesenteric territories, where the anastomosis is sometimes slender. This watershed area is one of the places where ischaemic colitis is seen when blood flow falls. When the inferior mesenteric artery is tied at its origin during bowel or aortic surgery, the left colon depends on blood arriving from the middle colic artery through this branch and the marginal artery.
Course and supply
- Arises from
- The left colic artery, the first branch of the inferior mesenteric artery, where it divides into ascending and descending branches.
- Ends in
- Ends near the splenic flexure by anastomosing with the left branch of the middle colic artery and joining the marginal artery.
- Supplies
- Supplies the upper descending colon, the splenic flexure and the distal transverse colon.
Anthromica
See the ascending branch of left colic artery where it really sits, with every layer of the body around it.
- Every layer, one body. Peel from muscle to bone, nerve, vessel and organ, and turn it any way.
- English and Latin. Every structure named the way your exam names it.
- Quiz until it sticks. Short drills on the structures you keep missing.
Free to start. No card.
