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Inferior mesenteric artery

Last revised by Raymond Chieng ◉ on 13 Jul 2023

Citation, DOI, disclosures and article data

Citation:

V, Chieng R, Elfeky M, et al. Inferior mesenteric artery. Reference article, Radiopaedia.org (Accessed on 04 Dec 2024) https://radiopaedia.org/articles/12485

DOI:

Permalink:

https://radiopaedia.org/articles/12485

rID:

12485

Article created:

30 Nov 2010, Vijay

Disclosures:

At the time the article was created Vijay had no recorded disclosures.

View Vijay's current disclosures

Last revised:

13 Jul 2023, Raymond Chieng ◉

Disclosures:

At the time the article was last revised Raymond Chieng had no financial relationships to ineligible companies to disclose.

View Raymond Chieng's current disclosures

Revisions:

26 times, by 14 contributors - see full revision history and disclosures

Systems:

Vascular, Gastrointestinal

Sections:

Anatomy

Tags:

cases

Synonyms:

Inferior mesenteric artery (IMA)
IMA

The inferior mesenteric artery (IMA) is one of the three non-paired major splanchnic arteries, in the abdominal cavity, arising from the abdominal aorta and supplying the hindgut. It is the smallest of the three anterior visceral branches of the abdominal aorta.

Gross anatomy

Location

Located within the mesentery of the hindgut, passing to the left of the midline.

Origin

Unpaired vessel from the anterior aspect of the abdominal aorta at the L3 level, at the lower edge of the third part of duodenum ⁵.

Course

The IMA runs obliquely downwards towards the pelvic brim, initially anterior and then to the left of the aorta. After giving off the left colic and sigmoid arteries, it crosses the origin of the left common iliac artery at the sacroiliac joint medial to the ureter, with the inferior mesenteric vein lying between the two. Within the pelvis, it continues along the pelvic wall as the superior rectal artery in the root of the sigmoid mesocolon.

Branches

left colic artery
two to four sigmoid arteries
superior rectal artery (terminal branch)

Supply

splenic flexure of large bowel to the upper two thirds of the rectum

Relations

superior: third part of the duodenum ⁶
posterior: abdominal aorta, left psoas, sympathetic trunk, left common iliac artery, hypogastric nerve
lateral (left): inferior mesenteric vein

The inferior mesenteric plexus (autonomic plexus) lies at the origin of the IMA.

The left colic and sigmoid branches of the IMA cross anterior to the ureter.

Variant anatomy

doubled IMA
absent IMA
common trunks (e.g. left colic and rectosigmoid, rectal and colosigmoid)
absent left colic branch
Arc of Riolan (SMA/IMA connection)

Quiz questions

References

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