Which classification system best represents the inferior mesenteric artery? An imaging-based analysis and literature review
4 affiliations
- 1Department of Anatomy, Jagiellonian University Medical College, Cracow, Poland
- 2Youthoria, Youth Research Organization, Cracow, Poland
- 3Department of Radiology, Jagiellonian University Medical College, Cracow, Poland
- 4Department of Human Anatomy, Medical University of Lublin, Lublin, Poland
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.
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BibTeX
@article{wrona2026which,
title = {{Which classification system best represents the inferior mesenteric artery? An imaging-based analysis and literature review}},
author = {Andrzej Wrona and Michał Bonczar and Jakub Gliwa and Magdalena Papież and Elżbieta Szczepanek and Mateusz Sporek and Wadim Wojciechowski and Franciszek Burdan and Jerzy Walocha and Mateusz Koziej},
journal = {Folia Morphologica},
year = {2026},
month = nov,
doi = {10.5603/fm.108838},
url = {https://doi.org/10.5603/fm.108838},
note = {CC BY-NC-ND},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Which classification system best represents the inferior mesenteric artery? An imaging-based analysis and literature review
AU - Andrzej Wrona
AU - Michał Bonczar
AU - Jakub Gliwa
AU - Magdalena Papież
AU - Elżbieta Szczepanek
AU - Mateusz Sporek
AU - Wadim Wojciechowski
AU - Franciszek Burdan
AU - Jerzy Walocha
AU - Mateusz Koziej
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/11/04
JO - Folia Morphologica
DO - 10.5603/fm.108838
UR - https://doi.org/10.5603/fm.108838
AB - 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.
SN - 0015-5659
SN - 1644-3284
ER -