Corpus: Right colic artery

The right colic artery is a branch of the superior mesenteric artery that primarily supplies the ascending colon.

After branching off from the superior mesenteric artery in the retroperitoneal space, the right colic artery runs to the right, toward the ascending colon. It crosses the right ureter and the psoas major muscle. In some cases, it may also pass more ventrally, over the descending part of the duodenum. Just before reaching the colon, it divides into an ascending branch and a descending branch.

The ascending branch forms an anastomosis with the middle colic artery, while the descending branch anastomoses with the ileocolic artery. Numerous smaller branches arise from these anastomoses to supply the ascending colon.