Left gastroepiploic artery

Left gastroepiploic artery

The Left gastroepiploic artery (also known as the left gastro-omental artery) is a blood vessel that supplies the stomach and the greater omentum, a large apron-like fold of visceral peritoneum that hangs down from the stomach.

Etymology

The term "gastroepiploic" is derived from the Greek words "gaster" meaning stomach, and "epiploon" meaning omentum. The term "artery" comes from the Latin "arteria", meaning a windpipe or artery, which in turn is derived from the Greek "ἀρτηρία" (artēría), a word used by Hippocrates to denote windpipe or artery.

Anatomy

The left gastroepiploic artery arises from the splenic artery, which is a branch of the celiac artery. It runs from left to right along the greater curvature of the stomach, between the layers of the greater omentum, anastomosing with the right gastroepiploic artery, a branch of the gastroduodenal artery.

Clinical significance

The left gastroepiploic artery is of clinical significance in several surgical procedures, including gastric bypass surgery and the creation of a gastric tube for esophageal replacement. It is also important in the diagnosis and treatment of gastric cancer and peptic ulcer disease.

Related terms

• Gastroepiploic arteries
• Right gastroepiploic artery
• Gastroduodenal artery
• Splenic artery
• Celiac artery
• Greater omentum
• Gastric bypass surgery
• Gastric tube
• Gastric cancer
• Peptic ulcer disease

Left gastroepiploic artery Resources
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