In human anatomy, the marginal artery of the colon, also known as the marginal artery of Drummond and artery of Drummond (named after Sir David Drummond (1852-1932) an English physician), is a blood vessel that anastomoses (connects) the inferior mesenteric artery (IMA) with the superior mesenteric artery (SMA). It is sometimes absent, as an anatomical variant.

Clinical relevance

Along with branches of the internal iliac arteries, it is usually sufficiently large to supply the oxygenated blood to the large intestine covered by the inferior mesenteric artery and is a reason that in abdominal aortic aneurysm repair the inferior mesenteric artery does not have to be re-implanted (re-attached) into the repaired abdominal aorta.

The Marginal Artery of Drummond runs in the mesentery close to the bowel as part of the vascular arcade that connects the SMA and IMA. This artery is almost always present and its absence should be considered a variant.

The Arc of Riolan, also known as the Meandering Mesenteric artery, is another vascular arcade present in the colonic mesentery that connect the proximal Middle Colic artery with the proximal IMA. This artery is found low in the mesentery, near the root.

See also

• Marginal branch of the right coronary artery, sometimes referred to as the marginal artery.
• Marginal artery

References

External links

• Abdomen - University of Manitoba
• - "Branches of the superior mesenteric artery."
• - "Branches of the inferior mesenteric artery."
• Figure of the marginal artery of the heart - merck.com.