Figure 1.

Illustration showing the anatomy and its vascular supply of the ileocecum: terminal ileum, ileocecal valve, cecum, and the appendix. The superior mesenteric artery (SMA) supplies the ileum, cecum, and the ascending colon. SMA branches into ileal arteries and forms anastomotic loops or arcades. From these arcades, the straight arteries supply the small and large bowels. The appendix is supplied by the appendicular artery which arises from the terminal branch of the SMA instead of the arterial arcades.