Left Colic Vein

	Left Colic Vein The left colic vein drains the descending colon. It is a tributary of the inferior mesenteric vein, and follows the path of its corresponding artery, the left colic artery The left colic artery is a branch of the inferior mesenteric artery distributed to the descending colon, and left part of the transverse colon. It ends by dividing into an ascending branch and a descending branch; the terminal branches of the tw .... Branches * Ascending branch * Descending branch References * Veins of the torso {{Circulatory-stub ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu]
picture info	Descending Colon In the anatomy of humans and homologous primates, the descending colon is the part of the colon extending from the left colic flexure to the level of the iliac crest (whereupon it transitions into the sigmoid colon). The function of the descending colon in the digestive system is to store the remains of digested food that will be emptied into the rectum. The descending colon is on the left side of the body (barring any malformations). The term left colon is hypernymous to ''descending colon'' in precise use; many casual mentions of the left colon chiefly concern the descending colon. Structure The descending colon extends from the left colic flexure at the upper left part of the abdomen inferior-ward through the left hypochondrium and lumbar regions, along the outer border of the left kidney, ending at the level of the iliac crest at the lower left part of the abdomen, being contunued thenceforth as the sigmoid colon. It usually retroperitoneal (being lined by peritoneum on ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu]
	Inferior Mesenteric Vein In human anatomy, the inferior mesenteric vein (IMV) is a blood vessel that drains blood from the large intestine. It usually terminates when reaching the splenic vein, which goes on to form the portal vein with the superior mesenteric vein (SMV). Structure The inferior mesenteric vein merges with the splenic vein, posterior to the middle of the body of the pancreas. The splenic vein then merges with the superior mesenteric vein to form the portal vein. Tributaries Tributaries of the inferior mesenteric vein drain the large intestine, sigmoid colon and rectum. These include: * left colic vein * sigmoid veins * superior rectal vein * rectosigmoid veins Variation Anatomical variations include the inferior mesenteric vein draining into the confluence of the superior mesenteric vein ''and'' splenic vein and the inferior mesenteric vein draining in the superior mesenteric vein. Clinical significance The inferior mesenteric vein may be damaged during surgery on the body and ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu]
	Left Colic Artery The left colic artery is a branch of the inferior mesenteric artery distributed to the descending colon, and left part of the transverse colon. It ends by dividing into an ascending branch and a descending branch; the terminal branches of the two branches go on to form anastomoses with the middle colic artery, and a sigmoid artery (respectively). Structure The left colic artery usually represents the dominant arterial supply to the left colic flexure. Course The left colic artery passes to the left posterior to the peritoneum. After a short but variable course, it divides into an ascending branch and a descending branch. Branches and anastomoses Ascending branch The ascending branch passes superior-ward. It passes anterior to the (ipsilateral) psoas major muscle, gonadal vessels, ureter, and kidney; it passes posterior to the inferior mesenteric vein. Its terminal branches form anastomoses with those of the middle colic artery; it also forms anastomoses with the desc ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu]