mesenteric artery

(anatomy) Either of two main arterial branches arising from the abdominal aorta: the inferior, supplying the descending colon and the rectum, and the superior, supplying the small intestine, the cecum, and the ascending and transverse colon.

1. An artery with its origin in the aorta, with branches to the left colic, sigmoid, and superior rectal arteries; inferior mesenteric artery.
2. An artery with its origin in the aorta, with branches to the inferior pancreaticoduodenal, jejunal, ileal, ileocolic, appendicular, right colic, and middle colic arteries; superior mesenteric artery.

The noun has one meaning:

Meaning #1: one of two branches of the aorta that pass between the two layers of the mesentery to the intestines
  Synonym: arteria mesenterica