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.
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.
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 hypotension 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).
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