Marginal Artery of Colon

The marginal artery of the colon, also known as, the marginal artery of Drummond is a constant arterial circle or passageway created due to the anastomoses of the terminal divisions of the superior mesenteric artery and inferior mesenteric artery throughout the inner border of the colon.

Marginal Artery of Colon

Structure

It is created by the anastomoses among the divisions of colic sections of the superior mesenteric artery which includes, ileocolic, right colic, and middle colic arteries along with colic branches of the inferior mesenteric artery that are left colic artery and sigmoidal artery. It is a circumferential anastomotic arterial network expanding towards the rectosigmoid junction starting from the ileocaecal junction. It lies around the inner margin of the colon. The vasa recta emerge via the marginal artery and circulate the colon.

Clinical Significance

Mesentric Angina

Occasionally, the inferior mesenteric artery gets occluded. A lot of patients do not experience any issues since a continuous marginal artery is created by anastomoses among, the right, middle, and left colic arteries slowly expand. The distal large bowel as a result gets circulated by this bigger marginal artery also referred to as marginal artery of drummond, that changes the blood circulation of the inferior mesenteric artery.

The blood supply towards the gut is decreased, if the entrances of the celiac trunk along with superior mesenteric artery become contracted. The oxygen need of the bowel after a heavy meal overtakes the restricted supply of blood via the stenosed vessels, leading to mesenteric angina creating extreme pain. In this condition due to the pain, patients tend not to consume food and also quickly reduce weight. The medical diagnosis is verified by aortic angiography, along with the stenoses of the celiac trunk and superior mesenteric artery is evaluated best within the lateral view.