superior mesenteric artery

English

Noun

superior mesenteric artery (plural superior mesenteric arteries)

1. (anatomy) A large unpaired artery that arises from the abdominal aorta just below the celiac artery at the level of the first lumbar vertebra, and supplies the intestine from the distal half of the duodenum through two-thirds of the transverse colon, as well as the head of the pancreas.

Synonyms

• SMA (abbreviation)

See also

• celiac artery
• inferior mesenteric artery