colon - anatomical relations and arterial supply

Question 1

what is anterior to the ascending colon?

Answer 1

Small intestine
Greater omentum
Anterior abdominal wall

Question 2

what is posterior to the ascending colon?

Answer 2

Iliacus and quadratus lumborum
Right kidney
Iliohypogastric and ilioinguinal nerves

Question 3

what is anterior to the transverse colon?

Answer 3

Greater omentum

Anterior abdominal wall

Question 4

what is posterior to the transverse colon?

Answer 4

Duodenum
Head of the pancreas
Jejunum and ileum

Question 5

what is anterior to the descending colon?

Answer 5

Small intestine
Greater omentum
Anterior abdominal wall

Question 6

what is posterior to the descending colon?

Answer 6

Iliacus and quadratus lumborum
Left kidney
Iliohypogastric and ilioinguinal nerves

Question 7

what is anterior to the sigmoid colon?

Answer 7

Urinary bladder

Uterus and upper vagina (females only)

Question 8

what is posterior to the sigmoid colon?

Answer 8

Rectum
Sacrum
Ileum

Question 9

what are attached to the surface of the large intestine?

Answer 9

omental appendices

Question 10

what are omental appendices?

Answer 10

small pouches of peritoneum, filled with fat

Question 11

what is running longitudinally along the surface of the large bowel?

Answer 11

three strips of muscle, known as the teniae coli

Question 12

what are the three teniae coli?

Answer 12

the mesocolic, free and omental coli

Question 13

what does the teniae coli contract to do?

Answer 13

to shorten the wall of the bowel

Question 14

what does the teniae coli contracting and shortening the wall of the bowel produce?

Answer 14

producing sacculations known as haustra

Question 15

how does the diameter of the large intestine compare to the small intestine?

Answer 15

The large intestine has a much wider diameter compared to the small intestine

Question 16

where do the features in difference between large and small intestine cease?

Answer 16

at the rectosigmoid junction

Question 17

what happens at the rectosigmoid junction?

Answer 17

the smooth muscle of the teniae coli broaden to form a complete layer within the rectum

Question 18

what is the neurovascular supply to the colon closely linked to?

Answer 18

its embryological origin

Question 19

what is the derivative of the midgut?

Answer 19

ascending colon and proximal 2/3 of the transverse colon

Question 20

what is the derivative of the hindgut?

Answer 20

Distal 1/3 of the transverse colon, descending colon and sigmoid colon

Question 21

what is the general rule of arterial supply to the midgut structures?

Answer 21

superior mesenteric artery

Question 22

what is the general rule of arterial supply to the hindgut-derived structures?

Answer 22

inferior mesenteric artery

Question 23

where does the ascending colon receive its arterial supply from?

Answer 23

from two branches of the superior mesenteric artery

Question 24

what are the 2 branches of the superior mesenteric artery?

Answer 24

ileocolic and right colic arteries

Question 25

what does the ileocolic artery give rise to?

Answer 25

gives rise to colic, anterior cecal and posterior cecal branches

Question 26

what do the colic, anterior cecal and posterior cecal branches supply?

Answer 26

the ascending colon

Question 27

what is the transverse colon derived from?

Answer 27

both the midgut and hindgut

Question 28

what is the transverse colon supplied by?

Answer 28

branches of the superior mesenteric artery and inferior mesenteric artery

Question 29

what are the branches of the superior and inferior mesenteric artery?

Answer 29

Right colic artery Middle colic artery Left colic artery

Question 30

where is the right colic artery derived from?

Answer 30

superior mesenteric artery

Question 31

where is the middle colic artery derived from?

Answer 31

superior mesenteric artery

Question 32

where is the left colic artery derived from?

Answer 32

inferior mesenteric artery

Question 33

what is the descending colon supplied by?

Answer 33

by a single branch of the inferior mesenteric artery; the left colic artery

Question 34

where does the sigmoid colon receive its arterial supply via?

Answer 34

the sigmoid arteries

Question 35

what are the sigmoid arteries branches of?

Answer 35

inferior mesenteric artery

Question 36

what is the marginal artery (of Drummond)?

Answer 36

a clinically important vessel that provides collateral supply to the colon

Question 37

what is the function of the marginal artery (of Drummond)?

Answer 37

maintaining arterial supply in the case of occlusion or stenosis of one of the major vessels

Question 38

what happens as the terminal vessels of the superior mesenteric and inferior mesenteric artery approach the colon?

Answer 38

they split into many branches, which anastomose with each other.

Question 39

what do the anastomoses form? what is it called?

Answer 39

These anastomoses form a continuous arterial channel which extends the length of the colon – the marginal artery

Question 40

what arises from the marginal artery? what does it supply?

Answer 40

Long, straight arterial branches (called vasa recta) arise from the marginal artery to supply the colon.