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Glite Dictionary
superior mesenteric artery

superior mesenteric artery

1 7.0
A large blood vessel from the aorta that sends blood to the small intestine and part of the colon
  • noun
  • /suːˈpɪəriər ˌmɛsənˈtɛrɪk ˈɑːrteri/
  • Specialized
translation icon : arteria mesentérica superior
  • A blockage in the superior mesenteric artery can lead to severe abdominal pain and digestive issues.

Examples

  • The bullet severed my superior mesenteric artery.

    Swelter (2014)

  • Doctors monitored the patient closely for any signs of damage to the superior mesenteric artery during the surgery.

  • The superior mesenteric artery is crucial for supplying blood to the small intestine and parts of the colon.

Surface Forms

superior mesenteric artery singular
superior mesenteric arteries plural

Morphology

superior + mesenteric + artery

The meaning is directly compositional: 'superior' = upper, 'mesenteric' = relating to the mesentery (tissue supporting the intestines), and 'artery' = blood vessel, so the phrase denotes an artery located in the upper mesenteric region supplying the intestines. Although it is a technical medical term, its structure is transparent and follows ordinary modifier + noun composition found across languages, so a learner who knows the constituent meanings can infer the MWE meaning.

Etymology

Superior mesenteric artery is a literal medical name: superior means 'upper', mesenteric comes from the 'mesentery', the thin tissue that holds the intestines, and artery means a 'blood vessel'. So the name tells you it is the upper blood vessel that carries blood from the aorta to most of the small intestine and part of the colon.