Marginal artery of the colon


In human anatomy, the marginal artery of the colon, also known as the marginal artery of Drummond and artery of Drummond is an artery that connects the inferior mesenteric artery with the superior mesenteric artery. It is sometimes absent, as an anatomical variant.

Structure

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.

Clinical significance

Along with branches of the internal iliac arteries, also known as Cherbanyk's 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 into the repaired abdominal aorta.
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 a branch of the left colic artery. This artery is found low in the mesentery, near the root. In the setting of chronic ischemic colitis, both the marginal artery and the meandering mesenteric artery may be enlarged significantly, and may provide significant blood flow to the ischemic colonic segment.