Splenic Artery

Author: Dr Peter de Souza
Last modified: 13 December 2020

Splenic Artery

The structure indicated is the splenic artery.

The splenic artery the largest of three arteries arising for the celiac trunk:

  • Left gastric artery
  • Common hepatic
  • Splenic artery

The celiac artery is responsible for supplying the foregut structures, arising from the abdominal aorta just below the point at which it emerges through the aortic hiatus, at the level of vertebra L1.

The splenic artery takes a tortuous course along the superior aspect of the pancreas to enter the hilum of the spleen. Along its course, it gives off several branches supplying the neck, body and tail of the pancreas.

The splenic artery gives off the following arteries:

  • Short gastric arteries
  • Left gastro-omental artery (left gastroepiploic)
  • Pancreatic branches

The short gastric arteries supply the fundus of the stomach. The left gastro-omental artery passes medially along the greater curvature of the stomach to anastomose with the right gastro-omental artery (a branch of the gastroduodenal artery, which arises from the common hepatic artery).

Learn about the anatomy of the foregut blood supply and the celiac trunk in this video tutorial.