Epigastric artery

Epigastric Artery

The epigastric artery and its branches. (Epigastric artery is labeled at center right.)

The Epigastric Artery is a blood vessel that supplies oxygenated blood to the anterior part of the abdominal wall and some of the diaphragmatic regions. It is a branch of the external iliac artery and is divided into two types: the superficial and the deep epigastric arteries.

Anatomy

The epigastric artery arises from the external iliac artery, just above the inguinal ligament. It ascends obliquely upward, medially, and forward, in the subcutaneous tissue, and then pierces the fascia transversalis.

Branches

The epigastric artery gives off several branches, including the superficial epigastric artery, deep epigastric artery, and musculophrenic artery.

Clinical Significance

The epigastric artery is an important landmark in several surgical procedures, including laparoscopic surgery and hernia repair. It is also used as a landmark in radiology for the identification of other structures.

See Also

• Abdominal aorta
• Inferior epigastric artery
• Superior epigastric artery