The inferior mesenteric artery is one of the large blood vessels passing through the abdominal cavity and supplying blood to various organs, including the intestines. It is a branch of the common iliac artery.
Anatomically, this artery passes through the anterior arcuate and round ligaments and can be connected to other large vessels, such as the left gastric vein, superior mesenteric vessels. An anastomosis called the aortic hook occurs between the inferior artery and the rectum. The inferior artery carries blood to the lower intestines and then to the small and large intestines. The superior and inferior arterial mesenteries pass through the inferior mesenteric artery. It should also be noted that the inferior mesenteric artery is often blocked by blood clots, which leads to various pathologies such as intestinal ischemia or rupture. Patients with this pathology may complain of abdominal pain, stool disorders and intestinal bleeding.