Ileocolic artery
Sub-branch · Appendicular a. Caecum
Lowest right-sided branch of the SMA, descending in the mesentery toward the ileocaecal junction. Gives anterior and posterior caecal, appendicular, ascending colic and ileal branches; the appendicular artery runs in the free edge of the mesoappendix behind the terminal ileum.
Traced from the start
- Abdominal aorta
- Superior mesenteric artery
- Ileocolic artery
Detail
- Supplies
- Terminal ileum, caecum, appendix, lower ascending colon
- Appendicular artery
- An end artery running in the mesoappendix
- Anastomoses
- Ascending branch with the right colic (marginal artery); ileal branch with the last ileal artery
When it goes wrong
Luminal obstruction of the appendix (faecolith, lymphoid hyperplasia) raising intraluminal pressure
Thrombosis of the end-artery appendicular branch: gangrene and perforation within 24–72 hours; the mesoappendix and its artery are ligated at appendicectomy
Right hemicolectomy for caecal cancer
Ileocolic vessels are divided at their SMA origin to take the lymph nodes that run along the artery
Practise this structure
1 question in the bank tagged Mesenteric Arterial Supply.