Marginal artery
Arteria marginalis coli
- Latin synonym: Arteria juxtacolica; Arcus marginalis coli
- Synonym: Juxtacolic artery; Marginal arcade
- Eponym: Drummond
- Related terms: Marginal artery; Juxtacolic artery; Marginal arcade
Definition
The marginal artery of Drummond (marginal arcade) is a vascular arcade that runs in the mesentery close to the large intestine (that explains that the marginal artery is sometimes termed "juxtacolic artery"). It supplies the whole large intestine and connects the superior mesenteric artery with the inferior mesenteric artery.
The marginal artery extends from the ileocecal junction to the rectosigmoid junction, formed by the anastomosing terminal branches from the superior mesenteric artery (ileocolic, right colic, middle colic arteries) and from the inferior mesenteric artery (left colic and sigmoid arteries).
The marginal artery is morphologically variable but is considered to be constantly present by many authors.
For some authors, the arcade of Riolan (intercolic anastomotic artery), would be a portion of the marginal artery of Drummond connecting the SMA's middle colic artery with the IMA's left colic artery, on the right side of the transverse colon and the upper descending colon.
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