[Arterial vascularization of the left colon in the fetus]

Study on the left colonic arteries in 15 human fetuses (195 to 360 mm VC). The arterial system was injected 9 times with a mixture of gelatin and Indian ink, 6 times with red coloured stratyl. The left hemicolectomic resections are treated with the Spalteholtz method. The arterial axes are constant: left colic artery, the middle colic artery, the middle branch of the left colic artery, the sigmoïd arteries. A paracolic arch, often branched, was always found, an intermesenteric arcade was sometimes present (20%). Straight arteries became more numerous with function and age. Histologic study showed two types of muscular penetration by these arteries.