Descending Branch of Left Colic Artery
Ramus descendens arteriae colicae sinistrae
Read moreQuick Facts
Origin: Left colic artery
Course: Passes lateral and inferiorly out to near the descending colon then passes along its medial aspect.
Branches: Terminal anastomoses with those from the sigmoidal branches of the left colic artery.
Supplied Structures: Inferior portion of the descending colon.
Origin
As the left colic artery approaches the descending colon, it bifurcates into ascending and descending branches.
Course
The descending branch of the left colic artery courses inferiorly, along the medial aspect of the descending colon. It tracks the inferior portion of the descending colon to the sigmoid colon.
Branches
The descending branch terminates by anastomosing with ascending branches of the superior-most sigmoid artery (also a branch of the left colic artery). This further continues the anastomotic arcade (of Drummond) that supplies the large intestine.
Supplied Structures
The descending branch of the left colic artery supplies the inferior one half to one third of the descending colon down to the sigmoid colon.
Learn more about this topic from other Elsevier products
Artery
When the artery is occluded blood is forced through the collateral vessels, drastically increasing fluid shear stress and triggering an inflammatory response which drives vessel remodeling.
