Anterior mesenteric artery is a Visceral unpaired artery. It arises from the ventral face of the abdominal aorta immediately behind the coeliac artery and is of the same size.
Its lateral faces are related to the anterior mesenteric ganglia and the mesenteric plexus encloses the artery.
Collateral branches of Anterior mesenteric artery
- Pancreatic branches to the pancreas.
- The middle colic artery to the terminal part of the colon.
- The ileo colic artery gives off the ileo-caecal artery, which divides into caecal and ileal branches to the caecum and ileum.
- The ramus collaterallis runs in the mesentery along the ventral border of the coils of the colon and unites with the next branch.
- It supplies the posterior one third of the small intestine.
- The continuing trunk passes along the visceral border of the mesentery corresponding to the series of mesenteric lymph glands and unites with the ramus collaterallis.
- It supplies the anterior two-third of the small intestine.
- Both supply branches to the mesenteric lymph glands.
