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Marginal artery of Drummond

The marginal artery of Drummond is a continuous arterial arcade that runs along the inner border of the colon, formed by the anastomoses of branches of the superior mesenteric artery (SMA) and inferior mesenteric artery (IMA). It extends from the ileocecal junction to the rectosigmoid junction, forming a vital collateral pathway between the SMA and IMA territories.

It is created by contributions from the ileocolic, right colic, middle colic (SMA branches) and the left colic and sigmoid arteries (IMA branches). Its importance lies in maintaining colonic perfusion during arterial occlusion, surgical resections, or vascular compromise.

The marginal artery is clinically significant in colonic ischemia, atherosclerosis, bowel resection planning, and interventional embolization procedures. The weakest collateral area, where the marginal artery is sometimes absent or underdeveloped, is known as Griffith’s point (splenic flexure) and Sudeck’s point (rectosigmoid junction)—sites prone to ischemia.

Synonyms

  • Marginal artery of Drummond

  • Arterial arcade of colon

  • Colic marginal artery

Function

  • Provides a collateral arterial pathway between SMA and IMA

  • Ensures continuous blood supply to the colon from cecum to rectosigmoid

  • Maintains perfusion in arterial occlusion or stenosis

  • Serves as a surgical landmark in colectomies and colonic resections

MRI Appearance

T1-weighted images:

  • Marginal artery appears as a linear flow void (black lumen) along the colonic wall

  • Surrounded by mesenteric fat (hyperintense), aiding recognition

T2-weighted images:

  • Vessel lumen shows as a signal void; bowel wall edema (ischemia/IBD) may enhance vessel conspicuity

STIR:

  • Suppresses mesenteric fat, allowing clearer visualization of the artery’s course

  • Highlights perivascular edema or inflammation as hyperintense signal

T1 Fat-Saturated (Pre-contrast):

  • Lumen typically shows intermediate signal intensity, standing out against suppressed mesenteric fat

  • Helps distinguish artery from surrounding bowel wall structures

T1 Fat-Saturated Post-Contrast (Gadolinium):

  • Marginal artery enhances brightly and homogeneously

  • Demonstrates continuous arterial arcade and collateral connections

  • Detects stenosis, ischemia, or neovascularization

MRA (Magnetic Resonance Angiography):

  • Depicts the continuous marginal arcade from ileocecal to rectosigmoid regions

  • Shows SMA–IMA collateralization in cases of occlusion or stenosis

  • Useful for ischemic bowel assessment, preoperative vascular mapping, and embolization planning

CT Appearance

CT Pre-Contrast:

  • Appears as a tubular soft tissue density along colonic margin

  • Poorly visualized without contrast unless calcified

CT Post-Contrast:

  • Marginal artery enhances brightly along the mesenteric border of the colon

  • Visualizes patency, wall thickening, or extravasation in bleeding cases

CT Angiography (CTA):

  • Best modality for detailed assessment

  • Shows origin from SMA/IMA branches, continuous arcade, and weak points (Griffith’s, Sudeck’s)

  • 3D reconstructions delineate collateral networks

  • Critical for diagnosing ischemic colitis, arterial stenosis, and planning colectomies

MRI image

marginal artery of Drummond MRI coronal anatomy image -img-00000-00000

CT images

Marginal Artery (of Drummond)

CT images

marginal artery of Drummond CT axial image

CT images

marginal artery of Drummond CT coronal image