Final answer:
The superior mesenteric artery supplies blood to the small intestine, pancreas, appendix, and a majority of the large intestine. It branches from the abdominal aorta and is crucial for providing nutrients to these organs.
Step-by-step explanation:
The anterior mesenteric artery, also known as the superior mesenteric artery (SMA), is one of the major arteries that branch from the abdominal aorta and is responsible for supplying blood to various abdominal organs. Specifically, it services a substantial portion of the gastrointestinal tract.
The SMA provides arterial blood supply to the small intestine (including the duodenum, jejunum, and ileum), parts of the large intestine (up to the proximal two-thirds), the pancreas, and the appendix. It emerges from the abdominal aorta shortly after the celiac trunk and extends to several vital vessels that deliver blood to these organs.
In addition, structures related to the small intestine, like the villi and microvilli, which are crucial for absorption, receive their blood supply from the branches of the superior mesenteric artery. The veins that parallel these arteries drain into the superior mesenteric vein, eventually reaching the liver through the hepatic portal vein.