Posterior Superior Pancreaticoduodenal Artery
Arteria pancreaticoduodenalis superior posterior
Read moreQuick Facts
Origin: Gastroduodenal artery.
Course: Passes inferiorly to the right, then crosses back to the left, posterior to the head of the pancreas.
Branches: Pancreatic and duodenal branches and unnamed anastomotic branches.
Supplied Structures: Proximal duodenum, distal common bile duct and head of the pancreas.
Related parts of the anatomy
Origin
The posterior superior pancreaticoduodenal artery arises from the gastroduodenal artery, posterior to the superior border of the first part of the duodenum.
Course
The posterior superior pancreaticoduodenal artery passes inferiorly to the right of and anterior to the portal vein and the common bile duct. It then crosses posterior to the head of the pancreas and the therein embedded distal end of the common bile duct.
Branches
The posterior superior pancreaticoduodenal artery gives rise to pancreatic and duodenal branches. These, plus several small unnamed branches, anastomose profusely with branches of the posterior inferior pancreaticoduodenal, supraduodenal, right gastric arteries, and others.
Supplied Structures
The posterior superior pancreaticoduodenal artery supplies the first and second parts of the duodenum, the most distal retropancreatic portion of the common bile duct, and head of the pancreas.