ascending branch of inferior mesenteric artery

as·cend·ing branch of in·fe·ri·or mes·en·ter·ic ar·te·ry

(ă-send'ing branch in-fēr'ē-ŏr mez-en-ter'ik ahr'tĕr-ē) Branch of the left colic artery (from the inferior mesenteric artery) that passes anteriorly to the left kidney into the transverse mesocolon, where it anastomoses with the middle colic artery. It thus forms an anastomosis between superior and inferior mesenteric arteries, and is a component of the marginal artery of the colon (Drummond artery).