Quick Facts
Origin: Ileocolic artery.
Course: Passes inferiorly to the ileocecal junction.
Branches: Anterior and posterior cecal arteries, appendicular artery, anastomotic branches with the distal superior mesenteric artery.
Supplied Structures: Distal most ileum, ileocecal junction, cecum, appendix.
Origin
The ileal branch is one of two branches of the ileocolic artery, the other being the colic branch.
Course
From the distal end of ileocolic artery, the ileal branch peels off just before reaching the ileocecal junction and passes inferiorly to the ileocecal junction.
Branches
The ileal branch gives rise to anterior and posterior cecal arteries and the appendicular artery. It also anastomoses with the distal-most part of the superior mesenteric artery (Dorland, 2011).
Supplied Structures
The ileocolic artery supplies the distal-most ileum, the ileocecal junction, the cecum, and appendix.
References
Dorland, W. (2011) Dorland's Illustrated Medical Dictionary. 32nd edn. Philadelphia, USA: Elsevier Saunders.
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