Marginal artery of the colon

In human anatomy, the marginal artery of the colon, also known as the marginal artery of Drummond and artery of Drummond (named after Sir David Drummond (1852-1932) an English physician), is a blood vessel that anastomoses (connects) the inferior mesenteric artery (IMA) with the superior mesenteric artery (SMA). It is sometimes absent, as an anatomical variant.

Clinical relevance
Along with branches of the internal iliac arteries, it is usually sufficiently large to supply the oxygenated blood to the large intestine covered by the inferior mesenteric artery and is a reason that in abdominal aortic aneurysm repair the inferior mesenteric artery does not have to be re-implanted (re-attached) into the repaired abdominal aorta.