Celiac Trunk

Overview

• Celiac trunk
  • originates from the abdominal aorta at the level of the aortic hiatus (T12)
  • branches of celiac trunk
    • comprise main blood supply of stomach
      • common hepatic artery
      • splenic artery
        • supplies the spleen and is the source of bleeding with splenic injury  
          • spleen is most commonly injured organ after blunt trauma 
          • can result in hemodynamic instability
      • left gastric artery
        • branches of the left gastric artery supply the abdominal esophagus 
• Anastomoses
  • short gastric arteries
    • branches of splenic artery that supply fundus of stomach
    • anastomose poorly if splenic artery blocked
  • gastroepiploic arteries   
    • left gastroepiploic artery is a branch of splenic artery
    • right gastroepiploic artery is a branch of gastroduodenal artery
    • both run along and supply greater curvature of stomach and anastomose strongly
  • gastric arteries
    • left gastric artery is a branch of celiac trunk
    • right gastric artery is a branch of hepatic artery proper
    • both run along and supply lesser curvature of stomach and anastomose strongly