Colic flexures
{{Anatomy terms}}{{Short description|Two abrupt bends in the large intestine}}
{{Infobox anatomy
| Name = Colic flexures
| Latin = flexura coli
| Image = 2420 Large Intestine.jpg
| Caption = The hepatic and splenic flexures labelled at either side of transverse colon
| Image2 = Gray1098.png
| Caption2 = Front of abdomen, showing surface markings for liver, stomach, duodenum, pancreas, colon
| Precursor = Hindgut
| System =
|Artery=Right colic artery (right flexure), and left colic artery (left flexure)}}
In the anatomy of the human digestive tract, there are two colic flexures, or curvatures in the transverse colon. The right colic flexure is also known as the hepatic flexure, and the left colic flexure is also known as the splenic flexure.{{cite web |last1=Jones |first1=Jeremy |title=Transverse colon {{!}} Radiology Reference Article {{!}} Radiopaedia.org |url=https://radiopaedia.org/articles/transverse-colon?lang=gb |website=Radiopaedia |access-date=2 January 2022}}
Structure
=Right colic flexure=
The right colic flexure or hepatic flexure (as it is next to the liver) is the sharp bend between the ascending colon and the transverse colon. The hepatic flexure lies in the right upper quadrant of the human abdomen. It receives blood supply from the superior mesenteric artery.
=Left colic flexure=
The left colic flexure or splenic flexure (as it is close to the spleen) is the sharp bend between the transverse colon and the descending colon. The splenic flexure receives dual blood supply from the terminal branches of the superior mesenteric artery and the inferior mesenteric artery.
Clinical significance
The splenic flexure is the last and highest positioned flexure in the colon. Gas can build up at this flexure and give abdominal pain giving rise to a condition known as splenic flexure syndrome. Splenic flexure syndrome is often found in those with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), and is considered by some practitioners to be a type of IBS since it can also result from stress.{{cite web |title=What Is the Splenic Flexure? |url=https://www.webmd.com/digestive-disorders/what-is-the-splenic-flexure |website=WebMD |access-date=2 January 2022 |language=en}}
The splenic flexure is a watershed region as it receives dual blood supply from the terminal branches of the superior mesenteric artery and the inferior mesenteric artery, thus making it prone to ischemic damage in cases of low blood pressure because it does not have its own primary source of blood. In the context of bowel ischemia in particular ischemic colitis, the splenic flexure is sometimes referred to as Griffith's point, along with the upper rectum (Sudeck's point).{{cite web |last1=Amini |first1=Afshin |last2=Nagalli |first2=Shivaraj |title=Bowel Ischemia |url=https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32119414/ |website=StatPearls |publisher=StatPearls Publishing |access-date=2 January 2022 |date=2021}}{{cite web |last1=Dixon |first1=Andrew |title=Griffiths point {{!}} Radiology Reference Article {{!}} Radiopaedia.org |url=https://images.radiopaedia.org/articles/griffiths-point-2 |website=Radiopaedia |access-date=2 January 2022}}
Additional images
File:Illu intestine.jpg|Intestines
File:Human intestinal tract, as imaged via double-contrast barium enema.jpg|Double contrast barium enema, using positive and negative contrast
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4L8ANPCqosM Lotti M. Anatomy in relation to left colectomy]
- {{SUNYAnatomyLabs|37|13|01|02}}
- {{SUNYAnatomyImage|8|1|82}}
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