Menu
Home
People
Places
Arts
History
Plants & Animals
Science
Life & Culture
Technology
Reference.org
Celiac artery
open-in-new
<h2 id="structure">Structure</h2> <p>The celiac artery is the first major branch of the descending <a href="/facts/Abdominal_aorta/W0hEwh5X">abdominal aorta</a>, branching at a 90° <a href="/facts/Angle/gFUTEQYq">angle</a>.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:1" href="#fn:1"><sup>1</sup></a><a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:2" href="#fn:2"><sup>2</sup></a> This occurs just below the <a href="/facts/Crus_of_diaphragm/nVqFGnBo">crus of the diaphragm</a>.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:3" href="#fn:3"><sup>3</sup></a> This is around the first <a href="/facts/Lumbar_vertebrae/BytnlsNy">lumbar vertebra</a>.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:4" href="#fn:4"><sup>4</sup></a> </p><p>There are three main divisions of the celiac artery, and each in turn has its own named branches: </p> <table><tbody><tr><th>Artery</th><th>Branches</th></tr><tr><td><a href="/facts/Left_gastric_artery/mehw7z3c">left gastric artery</a><a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:5" href="#fn:5"><sup>5</sup></a></td><td>esophageal branch, stomach branch</td></tr><tr><td><a href="/facts/Common_hepatic_artery/k5HBBKTk">common hepatic artery</a><a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:6" href="#fn:6"><sup>6</sup></a></td><td><a href="/facts/Proper_hepatic_artery/uPsHWQkl">proper hepatic artery</a>, <a href="/facts/Right_gastric_artery/zxh2slML">right gastric artery</a>, <a href="/facts/Gastroduodenal_artery/gVe2gzXY">gastroduodenal artery</a></td></tr><tr><td><a href="/facts/Splenic_artery/WFeNRYTr">splenic artery</a><a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:7" href="#fn:7"><sup>7</sup></a></td><td><a href="/facts/Dorsal_pancreatic_artery/ChA7trdA">dorsal pancreatic artery</a>, <a href="/facts/Short_gastric_arteries/xY3LtfQc">short gastric arteries</a>, <a href="/facts/Left_gastro-omental_artery/2PzS8Bhr">left gastro-omental artery</a>, <a href="/facts/Greater_pancreatic_artery/ulKAlvhT">greater pancreatic artery</a></td></tr></tbody></table> <p>The celiac artery may also give rise to the <a href="/facts/Inferior_phrenic_arteries/pPURo3kX">inferior phrenic arteries</a>. </p> <h2 id="function">Function</h2> <p>The celiac artery supplies oxygenated <a href="/facts/Blood/03zEulkj">blood</a> to the <a href="/facts/Liver/Rtp4Fk2b">liver</a>, <a href="/facts/Stomach/Q4PPDGT6">stomach</a>, abdominal <a href="/facts/Esophagus/XWa7WoWn">esophagus</a>, <a href="/facts/Spleen/6NKn9d8s">spleen</a>, and the superior half of both the <a href="/facts/Duodenum/IAIgHBmq">duodenum</a> and the <a href="/facts/Pancreas/r0WPGjAq">pancreas</a>.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:8" href="#fn:8"><sup>8</sup></a> These structures correspond to the embryonic <a href="/facts/Foregut/ngnGu9bV">foregut</a>. (Similarly, the <a href="/facts/Superior_mesenteric_artery/A2gV85a4">superior mesenteric artery</a> and <a href="/facts/Inferior_mesenteric_artery/ESCW2y5Y">inferior mesenteric artery</a> feed structures arising from the embryonic <a href="/facts/Midgut/n6Ewuzfk">midgut</a> and <a href="/facts/Hindgut/6xLpD3Lg">hindgut</a> respectively. Note that these three anterior branches of the abdominal aorta are distinct and cannot substitute for one another, although there are limited connections between their terminal branches.) </p><p>The celiac artery is an essential source of blood, since the interconnections with the other major arteries of the gut are not sufficient to sustain adequate <a href="/facts/Perfusion/EFVLNUTg">perfusion</a>. Thus it cannot be safely ligated in a living person, and obstruction of the celiac artery will lead to <a href="/facts/Necrosis/zCPsTeWx">necrosis</a> of the structures it supplies. </p> <h3>Drainage</h3> <p>The celiac artery is the only major <a href="/facts/Artery/Y1Yj0jat">artery</a> that nourishes the abdominal <a href="/facts/Digestive_organs/nK2zwqBS">digestive organs</a> that does <i>not</i> have a similarly named vein. </p><p>Most blood returning from the digestive organs (including from the area of distribution of the celiac artery) is diverted to the liver via the <a href="/facts/Portal_venous_system/DtbasewB">portal venous system</a> for further processing and detoxification in the liver before returning to the <a href="/facts/Systemic_circulation/WXwudzzc">systemic circulation</a> via the <a href="/facts/Hepatic_vein/qkFAQhLl">hepatic veins</a>. </p><p>In contrast to the drainage of midgut and hindgut structures by the <a href="/facts/Superior_mesenteric_vein/F4PfMbcc">superior mesenteric vein</a> and <a href="/facts/Inferior_mesenteric_vein/tIoEE72V">inferior mesenteric vein</a> respectively, venous return from the celiac artery is through either the <a href="/facts/Splenic_vein/FFmXaggy">splenic vein</a> emptying into the <a href="/facts/Hepatic_portal_vein/pfyB986q">hepatic portal vein</a> or via smaller tributaries of the portal venous system. </p> <h2 id="clinical-significance">Clinical significance</h2> <p><a href="/facts/Aneurysm/Yz3G3LoJ">Aneurysms</a> in the celiac artery account for around 4% of visceral artery aneurysms.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:9" href="#fn:9"><sup>9</sup></a><a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:10" href="#fn:10"><sup>10</sup></a> This may cause <a href="/facts/Abdominal_pain/aF6gPB0G">abdominal pain</a>.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:11" href="#fn:11"><sup>11</sup></a> </p><p>The celiac artery is vulnerable to compression from the <a href="/facts/Crus_of_diaphragm/nVqFGnBo">crus of the diaphragm</a> during <a href="/facts/Breathing/92Wov2gk">ventilation</a> where it originates from the <a href="/facts/Abdominal_aorta/W0hEwh5X">abdominal aorta</a>.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:12" href="#fn:12"><sup>12</sup></a> This is known as <a href="/facts/Median_arcuate_ligament_syndrome/KC8LdrRy">median arcuate ligament syndrome</a>.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:13" href="#fn:13"><sup>13</sup></a> This may present no <a href="/facts/Signs_and_symptoms/BzP6MrTN">symptoms</a>, but can cause <a href="/facts/Pain/70E79oUn">pain</a> due to restricted blood flow to the <a href="/facts/Superior_mesenteric_artery/A2gV85a4">superior mesenteric artery</a>.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:14" href="#fn:14"><sup>14</sup></a> </p> <h2 id="additional-images">Additional images</h2> <h2 id="see-also">See also</h2> <ul><li><a href="/facts/Median_arcuate_ligament_syndrome/KC8LdrRy">Celiac artery compression syndrome</a></li></ul> <h2 id="external-links">External links</h2> Wikimedia Commons has media related to Human celiac artery. <ul><li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20100101010101/http://ect.downstate.edu/courseware/haonline/figs/l38/380109.htm">Anatomy figure: 38:01-09</a> at Human Anatomy Online, SUNY Downstate Medical Center - "Branches of the celiac trunk."</li> <li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20100101010101/http://ect.downstate.edu/courseware/haonline/figs/l40/400501.htm">Anatomy figure: 40:05-01</a> at Human Anatomy Online, SUNY Downstate Medical Center - "Parietal and visceral branches of the abdominal aorta."</li> <li><a href="http://www.wesnorman.com/celiactrunk.htm">celiactrunk</a> at The Anatomy Lesson by Wesley Norman (Georgetown University)</li> <li><a href="/facts/Loyola_University_Chicago/Dfq5IapC">MedEd at Loyola</a> <i><a href="http://www.meddean.luc.edu/Lumen/MedEd/Radio/curriculum/Vascular/hema144A.jpg">Radio/curriculum/Vascular/hema144A.jpg</a></i></li></ul> <h2 id="references">References</h2> <ol> <li id="fn:1"><p>Williams, Timothy K.; Harthun, Nancy; Machleder, Herbert I.; Freischlag, Julie Ann (2013-01-01), Creager, Mark A.; Beckman, Joshua A.; Loscalzo, Joseph (eds.), "Chapter 62 - Vascular Compression Syndromes", Vascular Medicine: A Companion to Braunwald's Heart Disease (Second Edition), Philadelphia: W.B. Saunders, pp. 755–770, ISBN 978-1-4377-2930-6, retrieved 2021-01-13 <a href="978-1-4377-2930-6" target="_blank">978-1-4377-2930-6</a> <a href="#fnref:1" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:2"><p>Chiva, Luis M.; Magrina, Javier (2018-01-01), Ramirez, Pedro T.; Frumovitz, Michael; Abu-Rustum, Nadeem R. (eds.), "Chapter 2 - Abdominal and Pelvic Anatomy", Principles of Gynecologic Oncology Surgery, Elsevier, pp. 3–49, ISBN 978-0-323-42878-1, retrieved 2021-01-13 <a href="978-0-323-42878-1" target="_blank">978-0-323-42878-1</a> <a href="#fnref:2" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:3"><p>Chiva, Luis M.; Magrina, Javier (2018-01-01), Ramirez, Pedro T.; Frumovitz, Michael; Abu-Rustum, Nadeem R. (eds.), "Chapter 2 - Abdominal and Pelvic Anatomy", Principles of Gynecologic Oncology Surgery, Elsevier, pp. 3–49, ISBN 978-0-323-42878-1, retrieved 2021-01-13 <a href="978-0-323-42878-1" target="_blank">978-0-323-42878-1</a> <a href="#fnref:3" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:4"><p>Paterson-Brown, Sara (2010-01-01), Bennett, Phillip; Williamson, Catherine (eds.), "Chapter Five - Applied anatomy", Basic Science in Obstetrics and Gynaecology (Fourth Edition), Churchill Livingstone, pp. 57–95, ISBN 978-0-443-10281-3, retrieved 2021-01-13 <a href="978-0-443-10281-3" target="_blank">978-0-443-10281-3</a> <a href="#fnref:4" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:5"><p>Chiva, Luis M.; Magrina, Javier (2018-01-01), Ramirez, Pedro T.; Frumovitz, Michael; Abu-Rustum, Nadeem R. (eds.), "Chapter 2 - Abdominal and Pelvic Anatomy", Principles of Gynecologic Oncology Surgery, Elsevier, pp. 3–49, ISBN 978-0-323-42878-1, retrieved 2021-01-13 <a href="978-0-323-42878-1" target="_blank">978-0-323-42878-1</a> <a href="#fnref:5" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:6"><p>Chiva, Luis M.; Magrina, Javier (2018-01-01), Ramirez, Pedro T.; Frumovitz, Michael; Abu-Rustum, Nadeem R. (eds.), "Chapter 2 - Abdominal and Pelvic Anatomy", Principles of Gynecologic Oncology Surgery, Elsevier, pp. 3–49, ISBN 978-0-323-42878-1, retrieved 2021-01-13 <a href="978-0-323-42878-1" target="_blank">978-0-323-42878-1</a> <a href="#fnref:6" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:7"><p>Chiva, Luis M.; Magrina, Javier (2018-01-01), Ramirez, Pedro T.; Frumovitz, Michael; Abu-Rustum, Nadeem R. (eds.), "Chapter 2 - Abdominal and Pelvic Anatomy", Principles of Gynecologic Oncology Surgery, Elsevier, pp. 3–49, ISBN 978-0-323-42878-1, retrieved 2021-01-13 <a href="978-0-323-42878-1" target="_blank">978-0-323-42878-1</a> <a href="#fnref:7" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:8"><p>Chiva, Luis M.; Magrina, Javier (2018-01-01), Ramirez, Pedro T.; Frumovitz, Michael; Abu-Rustum, Nadeem R. (eds.), "Chapter 2 - Abdominal and Pelvic Anatomy", Principles of Gynecologic Oncology Surgery, Elsevier, pp. 3–49, ISBN 978-0-323-42878-1, retrieved 2021-01-13 <a href="978-0-323-42878-1" target="_blank">978-0-323-42878-1</a> <a href="#fnref:8" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:9"><p>Reil, Todd D.; Gevorgyan, Alexander; Jimenez, Juan Carlos; Ahn, Samuel S. (2011-01-01), Moore, Wesley S.; Ahn, Samuel S. (eds.), "Chapter 49 - Endovascular Treatment of Visceral Artery Aneurysms", Endovascular Surgery (Fourth Edition), Philadelphia: W.B. Saunders, pp. 521–527, ISBN 978-1-4160-6208-0, retrieved 2021-01-13 <a href="978-1-4160-6208-0" target="_blank">978-1-4160-6208-0</a> <a href="#fnref:9" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:10"><p>Rectenwald, John E.; Stanley, James C.; Upchurch, Gilbert R. (2009-01-01), Hallett, John W.; Mills, Joseph L.; Earnshaw, Jonothan J.; Reekers, Jim A. (eds.), "chapter 21 - Splanchnic Artery Aneurysms", Comprehensive Vascular and Endovascular Surgery (Second Edition), Philadelphia: Mosby, pp. 358–370, ISBN 978-0-323-05726-4, retrieved 2021-01-13 <a href="978-0-323-05726-4" target="_blank">978-0-323-05726-4</a> <a href="#fnref:10" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:11"><p>Rectenwald, John E.; Stanley, James C.; Upchurch, Gilbert R. (2009-01-01), Hallett, John W.; Mills, Joseph L.; Earnshaw, Jonothan J.; Reekers, Jim A. (eds.), "chapter 21 - Splanchnic Artery Aneurysms", Comprehensive Vascular and Endovascular Surgery (Second Edition), Philadelphia: Mosby, pp. 358–370, ISBN 978-0-323-05726-4, retrieved 2021-01-13 <a href="978-0-323-05726-4" target="_blank">978-0-323-05726-4</a> <a href="#fnref:11" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:12"><p>Williams, Timothy K.; Harthun, Nancy; Machleder, Herbert I.; Freischlag, Julie Ann (2013-01-01), Creager, Mark A.; Beckman, Joshua A.; Loscalzo, Joseph (eds.), "Chapter 62 - Vascular Compression Syndromes", Vascular Medicine: A Companion to Braunwald's Heart Disease (Second Edition), Philadelphia: W.B. Saunders, pp. 755–770, ISBN 978-1-4377-2930-6, retrieved 2021-01-13 <a href="978-1-4377-2930-6" target="_blank">978-1-4377-2930-6</a> <a href="#fnref:12" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:13"><p>Cutsforth-Gregory, Jeremy K.; Sandroni, Paola (2019-01-01), Levin, Kerry H.; Chauvel, Patrick (eds.), "Chapter 29 - Clinical neurophysiology of postural tachycardia syndrome", Handbook of Clinical Neurology, Clinical Neurophysiology: Diseases and Disorders, 161, Elsevier: 429–445, doi:10.1016/B978-0-444-64142-7.00066-7, ISBN 9780444641427, PMID 31307619, S2CID 196813489, retrieved 2021-01-13 <a href="9780444641427" target="_blank">9780444641427</a> <a href="#fnref:13" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:14"><p>Williams, Timothy K.; Harthun, Nancy; Machleder, Herbert I.; Freischlag, Julie Ann (2013-01-01), Creager, Mark A.; Beckman, Joshua A.; Loscalzo, Joseph (eds.), "Chapter 62 - Vascular Compression Syndromes", Vascular Medicine: A Companion to Braunwald's Heart Disease (Second Edition), Philadelphia: W.B. Saunders, pp. 755–770, ISBN 978-1-4377-2930-6, retrieved 2021-01-13 <a href="978-1-4377-2930-6" target="_blank">978-1-4377-2930-6</a> <a href="#fnref:14" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> </ol>