🫀 Anatomy and Branches of the Celiac Trunk
The celiac trunk is one of the three main anterior branches of the abdominal aorta and plays a vital role in supplying blood to the upper abdominal organs. Understanding its anatomical branches and the territories they supply is essential for clinicians, surgeons, and medical students alike.
🔍 What Is the Celiac Trunk?
The celiac trunk arises just below the diaphragm at the level of the T12 vertebra from the abdominal aorta. It is a short but crucial vessel, immediately giving rise to three major arterial branches:
Left Gastric Artery
Splenic Artery
Common Hepatic Artery
🌿 Branches and Their Territories
1. Left Gastric Artery
Primary Role: Supplies the lesser curvature of the stomach and the lower esophagus.
Notable Branches:
Esophageal branches
Territory Supplied: Shown in light yellow in the diagram.
2. Splenic Artery
Primary Role: The longest branch of the celiac trunk, it supplies the spleen, as well as parts of the pancreas and stomach.
Notable Branches:
Short gastric arteries
Left gastroepiploic artery
Territory Supplied: Shown in light red/pink.
3. Common Hepatic Artery
Primary Role: Supplies the liver, gallbladder, duodenum, and pancreas.
Notable Branches:
Proper hepatic artery (dividing into right and left hepatic arteries)
Gastroduodenal artery
Cystic artery (from right hepatic artery)
Pancreaticoduodenal arteries
Territory Supplied: Shown in olive green.
🔁 Anastomoses
The diagram also highlights anastomotic connections, particularly important for maintaining blood flow in case of vascular blockage. These include:
Connections between the left gastric and right gastric arteries
Links between the gastroduodenal and pancreaticoduodenal arteries
Anastomoses between gastroepiploic arteries
These vascular networks offer redundancy in blood supply, which is crucial during surgical procedures or pathological events like arterial blockages.
🩺 Clinical Relevance
Surgical Procedures: Knowledge of celiac trunk branches is essential during gastrectomies, splenectomies, and liver surgeries.
GI Ischemia: Blockage in any of the branches can lead to ischemic injury to respective organs.
Angiography & Imaging: Celiac trunk branches are key landmarks during abdominal angiography and CT scans.
🧠 Quick Summary
| Artery | Supplies |
|---|---|
| Left Gastric Artery | Stomach (lesser curvature), esophagus |
| Splenic Artery | Spleen, stomach (fundus, greater curvature), pancreas |
| Common Hepatic Artery | Liver, gallbladder, stomach, duodenum, pancreas |
📚 Final Thoughts
Understanding the celiac trunk and its branches allows for precise anatomical localization and safer surgical intervention. Whether you're a student or a practicing healthcare provider, mastering this vascular territory enhances your grasp of gastrointestinal and hepatobiliary anatomy.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
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