Celiac artery

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Celiac Artery

File:Celiac artery.svg
The celiac artery and its branches; the stomach has been raised and the peritoneum removed.

The Celiac Artery (also known as the Celiac Trunk or Celiac Axis) is a major branch of the abdominal aorta that supplies oxygenated blood to the stomach, liver, spleen, and parts of the esophagus and duodenum. It is one of the three anterior/ventral branches of the abdominal aorta, the other two being the superior mesenteric artery and the inferior mesenteric artery.

Structure[edit | edit source]

The celiac artery arises from the abdominal aorta immediately below the aortic hiatus of the diaphragm, at the level of the twelfth thoracic vertebra (T12). It is about 1.25 cm in length and branches into three major arteries: the left gastric artery, the common hepatic artery, and the splenic artery.

Function[edit | edit source]

The celiac artery plays a crucial role in supplying blood to the organs of the upper abdominal cavity. Each of its three branches has a specific area of supply:

  • The left gastric artery supplies the lesser curvature of the stomach.
  • The common hepatic artery typically gives rise to the proper hepatic artery (supplying the liver) and the gastroduodenal artery (supplying the stomach and first part of the duodenum).
  • The splenic artery supplies the spleen, and also gives off several small branches to the pancreas and the greater curvature of the stomach.

Clinical Significance[edit | edit source]

The celiac artery is of clinical importance in conditions such as celiac artery compression syndrome, where the median arcuate ligament of the diaphragm compresses the celiac artery, leading to abdominal pain and weight loss.

See Also[edit | edit source]

References[edit | edit source]



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