| middle cerebral artery | <anatomy, artery> One of the two large terminal branches (with anterior cerebral artery) of the internal carotid artery; it passes laterally around the pole of the temporal lobe, then posteriorly in the depth of the lateral cerebral fissure; for descriptive purposes it is divided into three parts: 1) the sphenoidal part (M1 segment of clinical terminology), supplying perforating branches to the internal capsule, thalamus, and striate body; 2) the insular part, supplying branches to the insula and adjacent cortical areas; and 3) the terminal part or cortical part, supplying a large part of the central cortical convexity (the latter two collectively forming M2 segment). Synonym: arteria cerebri media. (05 Mar 2000) |
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| middle colic artery | <anatomy, artery> Origin, superior mesenteric; distribution, transverse colon; anastomoses, right and left colic. Synonym: arteria colica media. (05 Mar 2000) |
| middle collateral artery | <anatomy, artery> The posterior terminal branch of the profunda brachii, anastomosing with the arteries which form the articular network of the elbow. Synonym: arteria collateralis media. (05 Mar 2000) |
| middle genicular artery | <anatomy, artery> Origin, popliteal; distribution, synovial membrane and cruciate ligaments of knee joint. Synonym: arteria genus media, arteria articularis azygos. (05 Mar 2000) |
| middle haemorrhoidal artery | <anatomy, artery> Origin, internal iliac; distribution, middle portion of rectum; anastomoses, inferior rectal and superior rectal. Because the latter is a tributary of the portal system, this is a portosystemic or portocaval anastomosis. Synonym: arteria rectalis media, middle haemorrhoidal artery. (05 Mar 2000) |
| middle meningeal artery | Origin, maxillary; branches, petrosal, superior tympanic, frontal and parietal; distribution, to parts mentioned and through terminal branches to anterior and middle cranial fossae; anastomoses, meningeal branches of occipital, ascending pharyngeal, ophthalmic and lacrimal, stylomastoid, accessory meningeal branch of maxillary, and deep temporal. Synonym: arteria meningea media. (05 Mar 2000) |
| middle meningeal artery groove | A narrow groove on the inner table of the calvarium, seen on lateral radiographs as a thin dark line, which may be mistaken for a skull fracture. See: sulci arteriosi. (05 Mar 2000) |
| circumflex branch of left coronary artery | <anatomy, artery> Terminal branch (with anterior interventricular artery) of left coronary artery which runs to left and then posteriorly in the coronary groove supplying atrial and ventricular branches. Synonym: ramus circumflexus arteriae coronariae sinistrae. (05 Mar 2000) |
| middle rectal artery | <anatomy, artery> Origin, internal iliac; distribution, middle portion of rectum; anastomoses, inferior rectal and superior rectal. Because the latter is a tributary of the portal system, this is a portosystemic or portocaval anastomosis. Synonym: arteria rectalis media, middle haemorrhoidal artery. (05 Mar 2000) |
| circumflex fibular artery | <anatomy, artery> The circumflex fibular branch, a branch of the posterior tibial artery which winds around the neck of the fibula and joins the anastomoses around the knee joint. Synonym: ramus circumflexus fibularis arteriae tibialis posterioris. (05 Mar 2000) |
| middle sacral artery | <anatomy, artery> Origin, posterior aspect of abdominal aorta just above the bifurcation; distribution, lower lumbar vertebrae, sacrum, and coccyx; anastomoses, lateral sacral, superior and middle rectal. Synonym: arteria sacralis mediana, middle sacral artery. (05 Mar 2000) |
| circumflex scapular artery | <anatomy, artery> Origin, subscapular; distribution, muscles of shoulder and scapular region; anastomoses, branches of suprascapular and transverse cervical. Synonym: arteria circumflexa scapulae. (05 Mar 2000) |
| middle suprarenal artery | <anatomy, artery> Origin, aorta; distribution, suprarenal gland. Synonym: arteria suprarenalis media. (05 Mar 2000) |
| middle temporal artery | <anatomy, artery> Origin, superficial temporal; distribution, temporal fascia and muscle; anastomoses, branches of maxillary. See: intermediate temporal artery, posterior temporal artery. Synonym: arteria temporalis media. (05 Mar 2000) |
| clavicular branch of thoracoacromial artery | <anatomy, artery> Distribution, subclavius muscle and sternoclavicular joint. Synonym: ramus clavicularis arteriae thoracoacromialis. (05 Mar 2000) |