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Intestinal arteries. Historical illustration of the arteries (red) of the intestines. The superior mesenteric artery (the thick vessel at centre) is seen branching to supply oxygenated blood to the coiled small intestine (lower right), the colon or large intestine (running from bottom left to top right), the duodenum (upper left) and the lighter- coloured pancreas (horizontal, above mesenteric artery). The blood supplies the high oxygen needs of digestion and absorbs nutrients to be carried around the body. Colour lithograph by Fairland from The Vessels of the Human Body, 1837. Based on drawings by J. Swandale. (KEYSTONE/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY/SHEILA TERRY)