Mesenteric arteries that branch from the abdominal aorta supply blood to the organs in the abdominopelvic cavity. Blood drains through veins from the large intestine into the
hepatic portal circulation to the liver. Because these veins drain into the liver, rather than the systemic circulation, about 80% of first metastases from colorectal cancers occur in the liver.

In general, lymphatic drainage from the large intestines follows the course of the blood vessels. Lymph that is derived from the abdominal organs is eventually returned to the bloodstream. Colorectal cancers that have grown to the stage where they invade the smooth muscle layers of the intestinal wall are more likely to metastasize to regional lymph nodes in the abdomen.