Descending colon
Citation, DOI, disclosures and article data
Citation:
Knipe H, Worsley C, Hacking C, et al. Descending colon. Reference article, Radiopaedia.org (Accessed on 09 Dec 2024) https://doi.org/10.53347/rID-22751
rID:
22751
Article created:
Disclosures:
At the time the article was created Henry Knipe had no recorded disclosures.
View Henry Knipe's current disclosures
Last revised:
Disclosures:
At the time the article was last revised Calum Worsley had no financial relationships to ineligible companies to disclose.
View Calum Worsley's current disclosures
Revisions:
11 times, by
9 contributors -
see full revision history and disclosures
Systems:
Sections:
Synonyms:
- Descending colons
The descending colon is the continuation of the transverse colon after the left colic flexure, where the colon loses its mesentery.
On this page:
Gross anatomy
The descending colon measures up to 25 cm in length and is secondarily retroperitoneal. It descends down attached to the left posterior abdominal wall into the left iliac fossa where it continues as the sigmoid colon. Peritoneum covers the anterior and lateral surfaces.
Relations
- anteriorly: loops of small intestine, anterior abdominal wall, greater omentum
- posteriorly: posterior abdominal wall
- distal descending colon crosses over external iliac and gonadal vessels
- laterally: left paracolic gutter
- medially: left infracolic space
Arterial supply
- branches of inferior mesenteric artery
- descending branch of left colic artery: proximal descending colon
- sigmoid arteries: distal descending colon
Venous drainage
- similarly named veins draining to the splenic vein and portal venous system
Lymphatic drainage
Lymphatics travel with vessels to the inferior mesenteric group.
Innervation
Quiz questions
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References
- 1. Paul Butler, Adam Mitchell, Jeremiah C. Healy et al. Applied Radiological Anatomy. (2012) ISBN: 9780521766661 - Google Books
- 2. Cornelius Rosse, Penelope Gaddum-Rosse, William Henry Hollinshead. Hollinshead's Textbook of Anatomy. (1997) ISBN: 0397512562 - Google Books
Incoming Links
Articles:
- Taeniae coli
- Left hemicolectomy
- Testicular arteries
- Transverse colon
- Properitoneal fat
- Colonic diverticulosis
- Inferior mesenteric plexus
- Griffiths point
- CT colonography reporting and data system
- Faecolith
- Inframesocolic space
- Pneumoretroperitoneum
- Loop-to-loop colon
- Left inframesocolic space
- Magnetic Resonance Index of Activity (MaRIA)
- Sigmoid colon
- Retroperitoneal organs (mnemonic)
- Left colic artery
- Large intestine
- Retroperitoneum
Cases:
Multiple choice questions:
Related articles: Anatomy: Abdominopelvic
- skeleton of the abdomen and pelvis
- muscles of the abdomen and pelvis
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- perineum
- abdominal and pelvic viscera
- gastrointestinal tract
- spleen
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endocrine system
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adrenal gland
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adrenal gland
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kidney
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kidney
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female reproductive system
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abdominal aorta
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common iliac artery
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internal iliac artery (mnemonic)
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internal pudendal artery
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