{
  "abstract": "BACKGROUND: The inferior mesenteric artery (IMA) is the primary blood supply to the hindgut, extending from the distal transverse colon to the rectum. Anatomical variations of the IMA are well documented, and numerous classification systems have been developed to describe these differences. These variations can involve the origin, course, and branching patterns of the IMA. The present study aimed to analyze the anatomy of the IMA with respect to the classification systems available in the literature. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Data from 74 consecutive patients who underwent abdominal computed tomography angiography (CTA) were evaluated. RESULTS: The most common vertebral level of origin of the IMA was the body of the L3 vertebra. According to the Zhang classification, the most common IMA type was Type IA, which occurred in 25 patients (35.71%). According to the Zebrowski classification, the most common IMA type was Type B (n = 26; 41.27%), followed by Types C and H (n = 14; 22.22%). The most common order of origin of the IMA branches was the left colic artery (LCA), followed by the common origin of the sigmoid trunk and superior rectal artery (SRA). The median diameter of the IMA at its origin was 3.49 mm (LQ = 3.09; HQ = 3.70) in females and 3.74 mm (LQ = 3.44; HQ = 4.05) in males (p = 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: The results of the present study demonstrate that the McSweeney classification was the most comprehensive and specific classification system for the IMA. The results of the present study may be useful to physicians performing various gastrointestinal and endovascular procedures, such as laparoscopic ligation of the IMA or embolization.",
  "abstract_shown": true,
  "affiliations": [
    "Department of Anatomy, Jagiellonian University Medical College, Cracow, Poland",
    "Youthoria, Youth Research Organization, Cracow, Poland",
    "Department of Radiology, Jagiellonian University Medical College, Cracow, Poland",
    "Department of Human Anatomy, Medical University of Lublin, Lublin, Poland"
  ],
  "article_type": null,
  "arxiv": null,
  "author_total": 10,
  "authors": [
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "Andrzej Wrona"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "Michał Bonczar",
      "orcid": "0000-0003-2080-165X"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        1
      ],
      "name": "Jakub Gliwa",
      "orcid": "0009-0004-3896-729X"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "Magdalena Papież"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "Elżbieta Szczepanek",
      "orcid": "0000-0002-9830-3784"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "Mateusz Sporek",
      "orcid": "0000-0002-1414-2910"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        2
      ],
      "name": "Wadim Wojciechowski",
      "orcid": "0000-0002-0748-3995"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        3
      ],
      "name": "Franciszek Burdan",
      "orcid": "0000-0001-5305-8829"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "Jerzy Walocha",
      "orcid": "0000-0001-8587-2315"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "Mateusz Koziej",
      "orcid": "0000-0002-2635-0776"
    }
  ],
  "bibtex": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/5q3r3hbwfb37q.bib",
  "cited_by": 0,
  "doi": "10.5603/fm.108838",
  "fulltext_url": "https://journals.viamedica.pl/folia_morphologica/article/view/108838",
  "id": "5q3r3hbwfb37q",
  "issns": [
    "0015-5659",
    "1644-3284"
  ],
  "landing_url": "https://doi.org/10.5603/fm.108838",
  "language": "en",
  "licence": "CC-BY-NC-ND",
  "licence_label": "CC BY-NC-ND",
  "licence_source": "journal",
  "licence_url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/",
  "metadata_licence": null,
  "native_subjects": [
    [
      "lcc",
      "QH573-671"
    ],
    [
      "lcc",
      "QM1-695"
    ],
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      "openalex",
      "2746|Abdominal vascular conditions and treatments"
    ]
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  "openalex": "W4416358309",
  "pdf_url": "https://journals.viamedica.pl/folia_morphologica/article/download/108838/86090",
  "pmcid": null,
  "pmid": null,
  "published": "2026-11-04",
  "publisher": "Via Medica",
  "ris": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/5q3r3hbwfb37q.ris",
  "sources": [
    {
      "first_seen": "2026-11-05T14:21:03Z",
      "native_id": "49fd99e11d0a4adf8c741de3fdea5669",
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      "url": "https://doi.org/10.5603/fm.108838"
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  "subjects": [
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      "field": "medicine",
      "origin": "openalex:2746|Abdominal vascular conditions and treatments",
      "subfield": "surgery"
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  "title": "Which classification system best represents the inferior mesenteric artery? An imaging-based analysis and literature review",
  "title_text": "Which classification system best represents the inferior mesenteric artery? An imaging-based analysis and literature review",
  "type": "peer-reviewed",
  "updated_at": "2026-11-06T14:20:32Z",
  "url": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/5q3r3hbwfb37q",
  "venue": "Folia Morphologica",
  "versions": []
}