Surgical Anatomy
Small Intestine - Terminal Ileum
- Last portion of the small intestine
- Enters the cecum
Large Intestine - Cecum
- Cul-du-sac of the large intestine
- Has tenia coli – a set of 3 longitudinal bands
- Has haustra which are small pouches along the colon
Appendix
- The appendix is a thin, worm-like blind diverticulum
- Attached to the cecum
- Suspended by the mesoappendix
Vascular Supply
- Midgut origin embryologically
- Blood supply originates from the Superior Mesenteric Artery (SMA)
- Appendiceal artery originates from the ileocolic artery which is a main branch of the SMA
- Artery lies within the mesoappendix
Identification of the appendix
- Confirm the identification of the cecum by identifying the tenia coli
- Confirm that the tubular structure you have identified is attached to the cecum
- Confirm another tubular structure, though not ending in a blind pouch, is attached to the cecum (the terminal ileum)
