The ileocolic artery is the lowest branch arising from the concavity of the superior mesenteric artery

Superior mesenteric artery

In human anatomy, the superior mesenteric artery arises from the anterior surface of the abdominal aorta, just inferior to the origin of the celiac trunk, and supplies the intestine from the lower part of the duodenum through two-thirds of the transverse colon, as well as the pancreas.-Location...

.

It passes downward and to the right behind the peritoneum

Peritoneum

The peritoneum is the serous membrane that forms the lining of the abdominal cavity or the coelom — it covers most of the intra-abdominal organs — in amniotes and some invertebrates...

 toward the right iliac fossa

Iliac fossa

The iliac fossa is a large, smooth, concave surface located on the internal surface of the ilium...

, where it divides into a superior and an inferior branch; the inferior anastomoses with the end of the superior mesenteric artery

Superior mesenteric artery

In human anatomy, the superior mesenteric artery arises from the anterior surface of the abdominal aorta, just inferior to the origin of the celiac trunk, and supplies the intestine from the lower part of the duodenum through two-thirds of the transverse colon, as well as the pancreas.-Location...

, the superior with the right colic artery

Right colic artery

The Right Colic Artery arises from about the middle of the concavity of the superior mesenteric artery, or from a stem common to it and the ileocolic....

. Supplies the cecum, ileum, and appendix.

Branches

The inferior branch of the ileocolic runs toward the upper border of the ileocolic junction and supplies the following branches:

• colic branch of ileocolic artery
  Colic branch of ileocolic artery
  The ileocolic artery of the superior mesenteric artery branches off into the ascending colic artery, the anterior and posterior cecal arteries, the appendicular artery, and the ileal branches....
  
  , which passes upward on the ascending colon
  Ascending colon
  The ascending colon is smaller in caliber than the cecum.It passes upward, from its commencement at the cecum, opposite the colic valve, to the under surface of the right lobe of the liver, on the right of the gall-bladder, where it is lodged in a shallow depression, the colic impression; here it...
  
  
• ileocecal (some sources acknowledge this division while others do not)
  • anterior cecal artery
    Anterior cecal artery
    The anterior cecal artery is a branch of the ileocolic artery.- External links : - "Intestines and Pancreas: Branches of Superior Mesenteric Artery"...
    
    and posterior cecal artery
    Posterior cecal artery
    The posterior cecal artery is a branch of the ileocolic artery.- External links : - "Intestines and Pancreas: Branches of Superior Mesenteric Artery"...
    
    , which are distributed to the front and back of the cecum
    Cecum
    The cecum or caecum is a pouch, connecting the ileum with the ascending colon of the large intestine. It is separated from the ileum by the ileocecal valve or Bauhin's valve, and is considered to be the beginning of the large intestine. It is also separated from the colon by the cecocolic...
    
    
  • ileal branch of ileocolic artery
    Ileal branch of ileocolic artery
    The ileal branch of ileocolic artery is a branch of the ileocolic artery....
    
    , which runs upward and to the left on the lower part of the ileum and anastomoses with the termination of the superior mesenteric artery
  • an appendicular artery
    Appendicular artery
    The appendicular artery, also appendiceal artery, is a terminal branch of the ileocolic artery that descends behind the termination of the ileum and enters the mesoappendix of the vermiform appendix. It runs near the free margin of the mesoappendix and ends in branches which supply the...
    
    

External links

- "Intestines and Pancreas: Branches of Superior Mesenteric Artery"