The splenic flexure is a sharp bend between the transverse

Transverse colon

The transverse colon, the longest and most movable part of the colon, passes with a downward convexity from the right hypochondrium region across the abdomen, opposite the confines of the epigastric and umbilical zones, into the left hypochondrium region, where it curves sharply on itself beneath...

 and the descending

Descending colon

The descending colon of humans passes downward through the left hypochondrium and lumbar regions, along the lateral border of the left kidney....

 colon

Colon (anatomy)

The colon is the last part of the digestive system in most vertebrates; it extracts water and salt from solid wastes before they are eliminated from the body, and is the site in which flora-aided fermentation of unabsorbed material occurs. Unlike the small intestine, the colon does not play a...

 in the left upper quadrant of humans. The left colic flexure is near the spleen

Spleen

The spleen is an organ found in virtually all vertebrate animals with important roles in regard to red blood cells and the immune system. In humans, it is located in the left upper quadrant of the abdomen. It removes old red blood cells and holds a reserve of blood in case of hemorrhagic shock...

, and hence called the splenic flexure. There are two colic flexures in the transverse colon

Transverse colon

The transverse colon, the longest and most movable part of the colon, passes with a downward convexity from the right hypochondrium region across the abdomen, opposite the confines of the epigastric and umbilical zones, into the left hypochondrium region, where it curves sharply on itself beneath...

 — the other being the hepatic flexure

Hepatic flexure

Hepatic flexure is the sharp bend between the ascending and the transverse colon. The right colic flexure is adjacent to the liver, and is therefore also known as the hepatic flexure. Thus, the left colic flexure is also known as the splenic flexure...

, as it is next to the liver

Liver

The liver is a vital organ present in vertebrates and some other animals. It has a wide range of functions, including detoxification, protein synthesis, and production of biochemicals necessary for digestion...

, in the right upper quadrant. The splenic flexure is a watershed region as it receives dual blood supply from the terminal branches of the superior mesenteric artery

Superior mesenteric artery

In human anatomy, the superior mesenteric artery arises from the anterior surface of the abdominal aorta, just inferior to the origin of the celiac trunk, and supplies the intestine from the lower part of the duodenum through two-thirds of the transverse colon, as well as the pancreas.-Location...

 and the inferior mesenteric artery

Inferior mesenteric artery

In human anatomy, the inferior mesenteric artery, often abbreviated as IMA, supplies the large intestine from the left colic flexure to the upper part of the rectum, which includes the descending colon, the sigmoid colon, and part of the rectum...

, thus making it prone to ischemic damage in cases of hypotension

Hypotension

In physiology and medicine, hypotension is abnormally low blood pressure, especially in the arteries of the systemic circulation. It is best understood as a physiologic state, rather than a disease. It is often associated with shock, though not necessarily indicative of it. Hypotension is the...

because it does not have its own primary source of blood.