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Elsevier
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Celiac Trunk
Cardiovascular System

Celiac Trunk

Truncus coeliacus

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Origin

The celiac trunk is an unpaired artery that arises from the anterior abdominal aorta. It originates immediately inferior to the aortic hiatus at the level of the twelfth thoracic and first lumbar (T12-L1) intervertebral disc.

Course

The artery travels in an anteroinferior direction for approximately 1.25 cm. It is located deep to the lesser omentum.

Branches

The celiac trunk gives off three branches. The first is the left gastric artery which ascends towards the esophageal hiatus and supplies the abdominal esophagus. It then descends along the lesser curvature of the stomach. The second branch of the celiac trunk is the splenic artery. It courses laterally towards the spleen, posterior to the pancreas. The common hepatic artery is the final branch of the celiac trunk. It travels laterally towards the liver and biliary apparatus.

Supplied Structures

The branches of the celiac trunk supply the foregut and associated structures. This includes the abdominal esophagus, stomach, and a portion of the duodenum as far as the major duodenal papilla.

In addition, the liver, gallbladder, pancreas, and spleen are all supplied by branches of the celiac trunk. It is common for organs of the digestive tract to receive blood supply from more than one source. For example, the stomach is supplied by all three branches of the celiac trunk.

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