INFERIOR MESENTERIC ARTERY. 317 



beneath the pancreas to its junction with the superior mesenteric or 

 the splenic vein. 



On the aorta the dissector will meet with a plexus of nerves, aortic 

 which is to be left uninjured. plexus. 



The INFERIOR MESEXTEHIC ARTERY (fig. 117, 6) supplies branches Inferior 



to the large intestine beyond the transverse colon, and communi- 



FIG. 117. THE INFERIOR MESENTERIC ARTERY, AND THE AORTA, AS SEEN 

 BY TURNING ASIDE THE UPPER MESENTERIC ARTERY AND THE SMALL 

 INTESTINE (TIEDEMANN). 



a. Aorta. /. Superior mesenteric. 



b. Inferior mesenteric artery. g. Renal. 



c. Left colic, d. Sigmoid, and e. h. Spermatic of the left side. 

 Superior hzemorrhoiclal branches. 



eating with the superior mesenteric, continues the chain of anasto- 

 moses along the intestinal tube. 



This vessel is of smaller size than the superior mesenteric, and origin, 

 arises from the aorta from one to two inches above the bifurcation. 

 It descends, lying at first on, and then close to the left side of the 

 aorta, and, after giving off branches to the descending, iliac and and 

 pelvic colon, terminates as the superior heemorrhoidal artery to the branc 

 rectum. 



a. The left colic artery (c) passes out in front of the left kidney, Left colic 

 and divides into an ascending and a descending branch for the descending 



colon. 



