Ascending branch of left colic artery

The ascending branch of the left colic artery is an arterial branch that arises from the left colic artery, which itself is typically the first branch of the inferior mesenteric artery (IMA). After the left colic artery originates from the IMA, it courses to the left, crossing anterior to the left ureter and gonadal vessels, and divides into an ascending branch and a descending branch.

The ascending branch travels superiorly along the medial aspect of the descending colon toward the splenic flexure. It runs within the mesentery, supplying the upper portion of the descending colon and contributing to the blood supply of the splenic flexure of the colon. At the splenic flexure, the ascending branch anastomoses with a branch of the middle colic artery (itself a branch of the superior mesenteric artery), forming part of the marginal artery of Drummond a continuous arterial arcade that runs along the mesenteric border of the colon.