The Coeliac Trunk
About
The celiac trunk, or celiac artery, is a major single visceral branch of the abdominal aorta that supplies blood to the upper abdominal organs (foregut). It originates from the anterior side of the abdominal aorta below the diaphragm at (T12 vertebral level). It divides into three main branches: the left gastric artery, the splenic artery, and the common hepatic artery. ​
Branches
​1. Left Gastric Artery: It gives off esophageal branches to the lower esophagus and gastric branches.
- The left gastric artery ascends towards the esophageal hiatus and then follows the lesser curvature of the stomach. It is the smallest branch of the coeliac trunk. The left gastric artery with anastomose with the right gastric artery at the lesser curvature of the stomach.
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2. Splenic Artery: The splenic artery is the largest branch of the coeliac trunk which travels behind the omental bursa and stomach, along the superior border of the pancreas until it reaches the hilum of the spleen. Pancreatic branches, short gastric arteries, and left gastroepiploic artery.
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- Pancreatic branches: supply the pancreas.
- Short gastric arteries: supply the fundus of the stomach.
- Left gastroepiploic artery: supplies the greater curvature of the stomach and anastomoses with the right gastroepiploic artery.
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3. Common Hepatic Artery: The common hepatic artery travels rightwards into the lesser omentum. Initially, it branches into the gastroduodenal artery and the rest of the common hepatic artery becomes the proper hepatic artery. The hepatic proper artery is anterior to the portal vein and left of the bile duct. Once it is close to the porta hepatis it bifurcates into the left and right hepatic artery.
Branches:
- Gastroduodenal artery: passes behind the duodenum and branches into the right gastroepiploic artery and the superior pancreaticoduodenal artery, supplying the stomach and pancreas.
- Proper hepatic artery: Branches into the right gastric artery which anastomoses with the left gastric artery and supplies the lesser curvature of the stomach. The proper hepatic artery then ascends towards the liver, bifurcating into the right and left hepatic arteries. The cystic artery branches from the right hepatic artery to supply the gallbladder.
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