What does the inferior mesenteric artery supply?

The inferior mesenteric artery primarily supplies the colon from the splenic flexure to the upper rectum. This artery branches off the abdominal aorta and gives rise to several important branches that vascularize specific parts of the colon. Among these branches, the left colic artery is responsible for supplying the descending colon, while the sigmoid arteries provide blood flow to the sigmoid colon. Additionally, the inferior rectal artery, which is a continuation of the inferior mesenteric artery's branches, supplies blood to the upper rectum.

Understanding the anatomical distribution of blood supply is key in interventional radiology, particularly when planning procedures that might involve this vascular territory, such as colon resections or embolizations. In contrast, other regions like the ascending colon and transverse colon are primarily supplied by branches of the superior mesenteric artery and would not fall under the distribution of the inferior mesenteric artery.