Mesenteric ischemia (mez-un-TER-ik is-KEE-me-uh) is a condition that happens when narrowed or blocked arteries restrict blood flow to the small intestine. Decreased blood flow can permanently damage the small intestine.
mesentery, a continuous folded band of membranous tissue (peritoneum) that is attached to the wall of the abdomen and encloses the viscera. In humans, the mesentery wraps around the pancreas and the small intestine and extends down around the colon and the upper portion of the rectum.