Quick Facts
Origin: The inferior mesenteric artery.
Course: Inferolateral direction within the sigmoid mesocolon.
Branches: None.
Supplied Structures: Sigmoid colon.
Origin
As the inferior mesenteric artery is traveling inferiorly towards the pelvis, it gives rise to 2–5 sigmoid arteries.
Course
The sigmoid arteries travel within the sigmoid mesocolon and descend in an oblique fashion towards the sigmoid colon.
Branches
The sigmoid arteries have no named terminal branches. However, they terminate as ascending and descending branches that anastomose with the branch above and below. Thus, their distal ends form anastomotic loops with adjacent sigmoid arteries.
The ascending branch of the uppermost sigmoid artery anastomosis with the descending branch of the left colic artery. Inferiorly, the descending branch of the final sigmoid artery anastomosis with the superior anorectal artery.
Supplied Structures
The sigmoid arteries supply the sigmoid colon. Its upper most branches provide vasculature to the distal end of the descending colon.
Its lower branches anastomose with the superior anorectal artery to ensure continuous supply between the sigmoid colon and superior rectum.
