Mesenteric arteries

The mesenteric arteries take blood from the aorta and distribute it to a large portion of the gastrointestinal tract.

Both the superior and inferior mesenteric arteries arise from the abdominal aorta.

[1] Each of these arteries travel through the mesentery, within which they branch several times before reaching the gut.

The term mesenteric artery is also used to describe smaller branches of these vessels which, particularly in smaller animals, provide a significant source of vascular resistance.

These branches have a dense innervation by sympathetic nerves, allowing the brain to control their diameter and hence the resistance to blood flow to the gut.