Mesocolic tenia

The mesocolic taenia (a.k.a. taenia mesocolica) is one of the three longitudinal bands of smooth muscle, collectively known as taeniae coli, that run on the external surface of the colon. It is situated along the posteromedial aspect of the colon, corresponding to the site of mesenteric attachment.

In the transverse colon and sigmoid colon, which are intraperitoneal segments of the large intestine, the mesocolic taenia marks the attachment of the respective mesocolon. Thus, the transverse mesocolon attaches to the transverse colon along the taenia mesocolica, while the sigmoid mesocolon attaches to the sigmoid colon at the same longitudinal band.

The other two teniae coli are the taenia omentalis and taenia libera.

Clinical correlate

The three taeniae coli converge at the base of the vermiform appendix. Consequently, tracing any of the taeniae coli along the colon provides a reliable anatomical method for locating the appendix during surgical procedures.