THE ABDOMINAL AORTA 273 



secondary arches. The terminal arches send numerous straight 

 vessels around the gut. 



(c) The iliocolic divides near the right iliac fossa into two 

 branches. The inferior joins the termination of the superior 

 mesenteric; the upper joins the colica dextra. It supplies the 

 ileum, cecum, appendix, and ascending colon. 



(d) The colica dextra, to the middle of the ascending colon, 

 divides into a lower branch joining the iliocolic, and an upper 

 which joins the colica media. These branches form arches from 

 which is supplied the colon. 



(e) The colica media, to the transverse colon, divides into a 

 right branch joining the dextra; a left, the sinistra. 



III. The inferior mesenteric supplies the descending colon and 

 its continuation. Arising from the left side of the aorta an inch 

 or two above the bifurcation, it passes to the left iliac fossa, 

 ending in the pelvis as the superior hemorrhoidal. It gives off 

 the following branches: 



(a) The colica sinistra, to the descending colon, dividing into 

 an upper branch joining the media; a lower, the sigmoid artery. 



(6) The sigmoid, to the flexure, joins the colica sinistra above 

 and the superior hemorrhoidal below. 



(c) The superior hemonJioidal, in the mesorectum, crosses the 

 left common iliac artery and vein. It divides into two branches, 

 one on each side of the rectum, which finally join the middle 

 and inferior hemorrhoidal arteries. 



IV. The suprarenals, to the under surface of the suprarenal 

 capsules, join branches of the phrenic and renal arteries. 



V. The renal, to the hilum, enters by four or five branches 

 into which each vessel divides close to the kidney. They lie 

 between the veins in front and the ureters behind. Branches 

 pass to the suprarenal bodies and ureter. There may be more 

 than one renal on each side. 



VI. The spermatic, the ovarian in the female, to the testicles 

 or ovaries respectively. Passing behind the peritoneum, they 

 cross the ureter and psoas, and in front of the vena cava on the 

 right, each crossing also the external iliac vessels. In the male 

 the vessel then runs through the inguinal canal to the testis, 

 joining the artery of the vas def erens. In the female it runs 

 in the broad ligament to the ovary, and sends branches to the 

 broad ligament, the tubes, and uterus. 



18 



