Celiac artery

Where is the celiac trunk?

It leaves the front of the abdominal aorta at about the level of T12, then runs down beneath the median arcuate ligament. It measures 1.5 to 2 cm. (StatPearls, Abdomen and Pelvis: Celiac Trunk)

The superior mesenteric artery leaves the aorta a short way below it. (OpenStax A&P 2e, 20.5; StatPearls, Abdomen and Pelvis: Superior Mesenteric Artery)

What are the branches of the celiac trunk?

It divides into the left gastric, splenic and common hepatic arteries. A three way split like this is seen in about 89% of people. (StatPearls, Abdomen and Pelvis: Celiac Trunk)

The left gastric artery, usually the smallest branch, supplies the lesser curvature of the stomach and the lower esophagus. The splenic artery supplies the spleen, much of the pancreas and the fundus of the stomach. (StatPearls, Abdomen and Pelvis: Celiac Trunk)

In the usual pattern the common hepatic artery carries the liver’s arterial supply. It gives off the proper hepatic, gastroduodenal and right gastric arteries. StatPearls also describes a five branch celiac pattern in which a separate hepatogastric trunk gives off a replaced left hepatic artery and the left gastric artery. (StatPearls, Abdomen and Pelvis: Celiac Trunk)

What does the celiac trunk supply?

Its territory is the foregut: the lower esophagus, stomach, first third of the duodenum, liver, pancreas, gallbladder and spleen. (StatPearls, Abdomen and Pelvis: Celiac Trunk)

OpenStax gives a simpler split: the celiac trunk serves the liver, stomach and duodenum, and the superior and inferior mesenteric arteries the remaining small and large intestines. StatPearls gives the celiac trunk only the first third of the duodenum, and gives the third part to the superior mesenteric artery. (OpenStax A&P 2e, 23.1; StatPearls, Abdomen and Pelvis: Celiac Trunk and Abdomen and Pelvis: Superior Mesenteric Artery)

What lies around the celiac trunk?

The two celiac ganglia lie to either side of it at about T12 to L1. They carry sympathetic supply to the foregut organs. (StatPearls, Abdomen and Pelvis: Celiac Trunk)

Celiac lymph nodes around it collect lymph from the liver, gallbladder, stomach, spleen and pancreas. (StatPearls, Abdomen and Pelvis: Celiac Trunk)

Where the sources differ

OpenStax lists the cystic artery to the gallbladder as a branch of the common hepatic artery. StatPearls says it is typically a branch of the right hepatic artery. (OpenStax A&P 2e, 20.5; StatPearls, Abdomen and Pelvis: Celiac Trunk)