Anatomy

| Sara Gonzlez Fernndez

Abdominal Aorta

Begins at TXII (aortic hiatus of the diaphragm). Ends at LIV, giving rise to the common iliac
arteries.

Anterior branches
1. Celiac trunk
2. Superior mesentery
3. Inferior mesentery

1. Celiac trunk
Supplies the foregut. Anterior to LI (superior part). Divides into:

I. Left gastric artery

II. Splenic artery
III. Common hepatic artery

I. Left gastric artery

Gives esophageal branches, some anastomose with the esophageal branches from the thoracic
aorta.

Runs through the lesser curvature and anastomose with the right gastric artery.

II. Splenic artery

***inside the splenorenal ligament

Runs along the superior border of the pancreas (supplies it). Divides into:

Short gastric arteries: pass through the gastrosplenic ligament: supplies the fundus
Left-gastro-omental artery

III. Common hepatic artery

Divides into:

Hepatic artery proper: left to the bile duct and anterior to portal vein. Divides:
o Right hepatic artery: divides
Cystic artery
o Left hepatic artery
Gastroduodenal artery: divides into:
o Supraduodenal artery
o Right gastro-omental artery
o Anterior superior pancreaticoduodenal artery
o Posterior superior pancreaticoduodenal artery

 Anatomy | Sara Gonzlez Fernndez

2. Superior mesenteric
Supplies the midgut. Anterior to LI (lower part). Crossed:

Anteriorly: splenic vein, neck of pancreas

Posteriorly: left renal vein, uncinate pancreas process, inferior duodenum

Divides into:

I. Inferior pancreaticoduodenal artery

II. Jejunal and ileal arteries
III. Middle colic artery
IV. Right colic artery
V. Ileocolic artery

I. Inferior pancreaticoduodenal artery

Divides into anterior and posterior, anastomose with the anterior and posterior superior
pancreaticoduodenal arteries and supply the head and uncinated process of the pancreas and
the duodenum

II. Jejunal and ileal arteries

Leave the main trunk of the artery, pass between 2 layers of the mesentery, and form
anastomosing arches or arcades. Extending from the terminal arcade are vasa recta.

Jejunum: long and close vasa recta

Ileum: short and far apart vasa recta

III. Middle colic artery

Emerges from beneath the pancreas. Divides into left and right branches:

Left anastomoses left colic artery

Right anastomoses ascending branch of right colic artery

IV. Right colic artery

Divides into ascending and descending:

Ascending anastomose right branch of middle colic artery

Descending anastomose ileocolic artery

V. Ileocolic artery
It divides into superior and inferior branches.

Superior anastomose descending right colic artery

 Anatomy | Sara Gonzlez Fernndez

Inferior continues toward the ileocolic junction and divides into:

o Ileal final part of the ileum before anastomosing with the superior.m.
o Colic first part of ascending colon
o Cecal cecum
o Appendicular mesoappendix and appendix

3. Inferior mesenteric
Supplies the hindgut. Arises anteriorly to the body of LIII. First runs anteriorly to the aorta and
then passes to the left. Divides into:

I. Left colic artery

II. Sigmoid arteries
III. Superior rectal artery

I. Left colic artery

Divides into ascending and descending branches:

Ascending anastomose left branch of middle colic artery.

o Anteriorly to the left kidney
o Enters transverse mesocolon
o Supplies: upper part of descending colon, distal part of transverse colon.
Descending anastomose ileocolic artery.
o Supplies: lower part of descending colon.

II. Sigmoid arteries

Supply the lowest part of the descending colon and sigmoid colon. Divides into 2-4 branches.
They anastomose superiorly with the descending branch of the left colic artery, and posteriorly
with branches form the superior rectal artery.

III. Superior rectal artery

 Anatomy | Sara Gonzlez Fernndez

Primitive gut tube

Can be divided into:

1. Foregut supplied by celiac trunk

2. Midgut superior mesenteric artery
3. Hindgut inferior mesenteric artery

Foregut
Includes:

o Abdominal esophagus
o Stomach
o Duodenum (superior to the major papilla)
o Liver
o Pancreas
o Gallbladder
o *** the spleen also develops in relation to the foregut

Midgut
Includes:

o Duodenum (inferior to major duodenal papilla)

o Jejunum
o Ileum
o Cecum
o Appendix
o Ascending colon
o Right two-thirds of transverse colon

Hindgut
Includes:

o Left one-third of the transverse colon

o Descending colon
o Sigmoid colon
o Rectum
o Upper part of anal canal