Which of the following arteries arises caudal to the inferior mesenteric artery?

The median sacral artery is the correct answer as it arises caudal (or below) the inferior mesenteric artery. The median sacral artery is a small artery that typically branches from the posterior aspect of the abdominal aorta, near its bifurcation into the common iliac arteries. This positioning makes it distinctly located caudally compared to the inferior mesenteric artery, which supplies blood to the descending colon, sigmoid colon, and rectum.

In the context of the other options, the lumbar arteries emerge from the abdominal aorta and run laterally to supply the lumbar region, while the gonadal arteries (which supply the ovaries or testes) typically arise at the same level as the inferior mesenteric artery or slightly above it. The infrarenal segment of the abdominal aorta refers to the part below the renal arteries but is not an artery itself. Hence, these other arteries do not fit the criteria of arising caudal to the inferior mesenteric artery, reinforcing that the median sacral artery is correctly identified.