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Mesoappendix: anatomy, location and function

The mesoappendix is a triangular peritoneal fold that attaches the appendix to the mesentery of the terminal ileum. It carries the appendicular artery, veins, nerves and lymphatics to the appendix.

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Highlighted in the model: Mesoappendix. Click any part to read about it, or switch off “Highlight topic” to see the whole body. 3D data: BodyParts3D, © The Database Center for Life Science, CC BY 4.0; meshes simplified and recoloured. The model is an adult male.

Mesoappendix at a glance

What it is
The mesoappendix is a triangular peritoneal fold that attaches the appendix to the mesentery of the terminal ileum.
Location
It is a triangular fold passing from the terminal ileal mesentery to the appendix in the right iliac fossa.
Function
It carries the appendicular artery, veins, nerves and lymphatics to the appendix.
Body system
Digestive · single, midline structure
FMA ID
FMA16549 (Foundational Model of Anatomy)

Key facts

  • The appendicular artery runs in its free edge.
  • It is usually a short fold derived from the back of the mesentery of the terminal ileum.

Clinical relevance

The mesoappendix and the appendicular artery within it are divided during appendicectomy.

Structures next to the mesoappendix

The nearest named structures in the 3D model, measured from the centre of each part:

References

  1. Foundational Model of Anatomy: Mesoappendix (FMA16549). EMBL-EBI Ontology Lookup Service.
  2. OpenStax. Anatomy and Physiology 2e, §23.1 Overview of the Digestive System. Rice University, 2022.
  3. Mitsuhashi N. et al. (2009). BodyParts3D: 3D structure database for anatomical concepts. Nucleic Acids Research 37, D782–D785. Data © The Database Center for Life Science, CC BY 4.0.

Explore the whole body in the interactive 3D human anatomy model, or browse the A–Z list of human structures.