Abdomen and pelvis: marginal artery of the colon: practice question

A Anatomy question in the style of the NEET PG paper. Answer it first, then read why the right option is right and why each of the others is wrong.

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Anatomy · Abdomen and pelvis: marginal artery of the colon

Sample item

A 70-year-old man has the inferior mesenteric artery ligated at its origin during aortic aneurysm repair, yet the left colon stays viable. Which continuous channel along the colon sustains it?

AMarginal artery of DrummondBSuperior rectal arteryCLeft colic arteryDVasa recta alone

Original practice item, not a recalled exam question. Nothing here is recorded.

The answer and the reasoning

A. Marginal artery of Drummond

The marginal artery runs along the mesenteric border of the colon and links the superior and inferior mesenteric territories. When the inferior mesenteric artery is occluded, flow from the middle colic branch can pass through it to the left colon. Watershed areas such as the splenic flexure are most vulnerable if this channel is deficient.

Option by option

A. Marginal artery of Drummond (correct)
Correct. This anastomotic arcade joins the superior and inferior mesenteric territories.
B. Superior rectal artery
The superior rectal artery is the terminal branch of the inferior mesenteric artery, also lost with ligation.
C. Left colic artery
The left colic artery is itself a branch of the inferior mesenteric artery and is lost with its ligation.
D. Vasa recta alone
The vasa recta are end arteries to the bowel wall and do not connect separate arterial territories.

Source note: Original NextPrep sample item — pending expert review. This item is original practice material awaiting independent expert review, so confirm important facts in a standard textbook.

Questions about this Anatomy question

What is the answer to this Anatomy question?

The best answer is A, Marginal artery of Drummond. The marginal artery runs along the mesenteric border of the colon and links the superior and inferior mesenteric territories.

Why is "Superior rectal artery" not the answer?

The superior rectal artery is the terminal branch of the inferior mesenteric artery, also lost with ligation.

Why is "Left colic artery" not the answer?

The left colic artery is itself a branch of the inferior mesenteric artery and is lost with its ligation.

Why is "Vasa recta alone" not the answer?

The vasa recta are end arteries to the bowel wall and do not connect separate arterial territories.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Abdomen and pelvis: marginal artery of the colon in Anatomy. When the inferior mesenteric artery is occluded, flow from the middle colic branch can pass through it to the left colon. Watershed areas such as the splenic flexure are most vulnerable if this channel is deficient.

How hard is this question?

We tag it as an application question: it asks you to use a fact on a patient or a finding. The tag is our own editorial judgement, not an official difficulty rating, so read the reason for every option, not only the answer.

How should I study Abdomen and pelvis: marginal artery of the colon?

Learn every nerve by its route, its muscles and what a lesion looks like at the bedside. That one habit answers a large share of questions. Then use the flashcards and the other Anatomy questions on this site to test what stuck.

Is this a real NEET PG question?

No. It is an original practice item (editorial status: sample, version 1). NextPrep does not publish recalled or leaked questions, and independent faculty review of this item has not been completed yet, so confirm important facts in a standard textbook.