Abdominal Arteries and Veins

Abdominal aorta

Continuation of the thoracic aorta after passing through the aortic hiatus at T12; gives off abdominal, pelvic, and lower

Celiac trunk

First major unpaired anterior branch of the abdominal aorta; supplies foregut organs including the stomach, liver, spleen, pancreas, and proximal duodenum.

Celiac trunk branches

Left gastric artery, splenic artery, and common hepatic artery.

Left gastric artery

Branch of the celiac trunk; supplies the stomach, especially the lesser curvature, and contributes to esophageal blood supply.

Splenic artery

Branch of the celiac trunk; travels toward the spleen along the superior border of the pancreas; supplies the spleen and gives branches to the pancreas and stomach.

Common hepatic artery

Branch of the celiac trunk; gives rise to arteries supplying the liver, stomach, duodenum, and pancreas.

Proper hepatic artery

Usually a branch of the common hepatic artery; travels toward the liver and divides into right and left hepatic arteries.

Right hepatic artery

Supplies the right lobe of the liver; commonly gives rise to the cystic artery supplying the gallbladder.

Left hepatic artery

Supplies the left lobe of the liver.

Gastroduodenal artery

Usually branches from the common hepatic artery; supplies the proximal duodenum and contributes to pancreatic blood supply.

Cystic artery

Usually branches from the right hepatic artery; supplies the gallbladder.

Superior mesenteric artery (SMA)

Branch of the abdominal aorta; supplies most of the midgut, including the distal duodenum, jejunum, ileum, cecum, appendix, ascending colon, and proximal two

Inferior pancreaticoduodenal artery

Branch of the superior mesenteric artery; supplies the inferior pancreatic head and duodenum.

Jejunal and ileal arteries

Branches of the superior mesenteric artery; supply the jejunum and ileum.

Middle colic artery

Branch of the superior mesenteric artery; supplies most of the transverse colon.

Right colic artery

Usually a branch of the superior mesenteric artery; supplies the ascending colon.

Ileocolic artery

Branch of the superior mesenteric artery; supplies the terminal ileum, cecum, appendix, and nearby ascending colon.

Renal arteries

Paired branches of the abdominal aorta; carry oxygenated blood to the kidneys.

Right renal artery

Branches from the abdominal aorta and travels to the right kidney; usually passes posterior to the inferior vena cava.

Left renal artery

Branches from the abdominal aorta and travels to the left kidney.

Gonadal arteries

Paired branches of the abdominal aorta; ovarian arteries supply the ovaries, and testicular arteries supply the testes.

Ovarian artery

Branch of the abdominal aorta; travels toward the ovary and supplies the ovary and uterine tube.

Inferior mesenteric artery (IMA)

Branch of the abdominal aorta; supplies the hindgut, including the distal third of the transverse colon, descending colon, sigmoid colon, and superior rectum.

Left colic artery

Branch of the inferior mesenteric artery; supplies the descending colon and contributes to blood supply near the left colic flexure.

Sigmoid arteries

Branches of the inferior mesenteric artery; supply the sigmoid colon.

Superior rectal artery

Continuation of the inferior mesenteric artery; supplies the superior rectum.

Lumbar arteries

Paired segmental branches of the abdominal aorta; supply the posterior abdominal wall.

Common iliac arteries

Form when the abdominal aorta divides near L4; each divides into an internal iliac artery and an external iliac artery.

Internal iliac artery

Supplies the pelvic walls, pelvic organs, gluteal region, and perineum through its branches.

Uterine artery

Usually a branch of the internal iliac artery; supplies the uterus and contributes to blood supply of the uterine tubes and vagina.

Ovarian artery pathway

Abdominal aorta → ovarian artery → ovary.

Uterine artery pathway

Abdominal aorta → common iliac artery → internal iliac artery → uterine artery → uterus.

External iliac artery

Continues toward the lower limb and becomes the femoral artery after passing beneath the inguinal ligament.

Arterial pathway to the ascending colon

Abdominal aorta → superior mesenteric artery → usually right colic artery.

Arterial pathway to the jejunum

Abdominal aorta → superior mesenteric artery → jejunal arteries.

Arterial pathway to the descending colon

Abdominal aorta → inferior mesenteric artery → left colic artery.

Arterial pathway to the sigmoid colon

Abdominal aorta → inferior mesenteric artery → sigmoid arteries.

Arterial pathway to the spleen

Abdominal aorta → celiac trunk → splenic artery.

Arterial pathway to the right kidney

Abdominal aorta → right renal artery.

Arterial pathway to the superior rectum

Abdominal aorta → inferior mesenteric artery → superior rectal artery.

Arterial pathway to the uterus

Abdominal aorta → common iliac artery → internal iliac artery → uterine artery.

Abdominal aorta

Continuation of the thoracic aorta after passing through the aortic hiatus at T12; gives off abdominal, pelvic, and lower

Celiac trunk

First major unpaired anterior branch of the abdominal aorta; supplies foregut organs including the stomach, liver, spleen, pancreas, and proximal duodenum.

Celiac trunk branches

Left gastric artery, splenic artery, and common hepatic artery.

Left gastric artery

Branch of the celiac trunk; supplies the stomach, especially the lesser curvature, and contributes to esophageal blood supply.

Splenic artery

Branch of the celiac trunk; travels toward the spleen along the superior border of the pancreas; supplies the spleen and gives branches to the pancreas and stomach.

Common hepatic artery

Branch of the celiac trunk; gives rise to arteries supplying the liver, stomach, duodenum, and pancreas.

Proper hepatic artery

Usually a branch of the common hepatic artery; travels toward the liver and divides into right and left hepatic arteries.

Right hepatic artery

Supplies the right lobe of the liver; commonly gives rise to the cystic artery supplying the gallbladder.

Left hepatic artery

Supplies the left lobe of the liver.

Gastroduodenal artery

Usually branches from the common hepatic artery; supplies the proximal duodenum and contributes to pancreatic blood supply.

Cystic artery

Usually branches from the right hepatic artery; supplies the gallbladder.

Superior mesenteric artery (SMA)

Branch of the abdominal aorta; supplies most of the midgut, including the distal duodenum, jejunum, ileum, cecum, appendix, ascending colon, and proximal two

Inferior pancreaticoduodenal artery

Branch of the superior mesenteric artery; supplies the inferior pancreatic head and duodenum.

Jejunal and ileal arteries

Branches of the superior mesenteric artery; supply the jejunum and ileum.

Middle colic artery

Branch of the superior mesenteric artery; supplies most of the transverse colon.

Right colic artery

Usually a branch of the superior mesenteric artery; supplies the ascending colon.

Ileocolic artery

Branch of the superior mesenteric artery; supplies the terminal ileum, cecum, appendix, and nearby ascending colon.

Renal arteries

Paired branches of the abdominal aorta; carry oxygenated blood to the kidneys.

Right renal artery

Branches from the abdominal aorta and travels to the right kidney; usually passes posterior to the inferior vena cava.

Left renal artery

Branches from the abdominal aorta and travels to the left kidney.

Gonadal arteries

Paired branches of the abdominal aorta; ovarian arteries supply the ovaries, and testicular arteries supply the testes.

Ovarian artery

Branch of the abdominal aorta; travels toward the ovary and supplies the ovary and uterine tube.

Inferior mesenteric artery (IMA)

Branch of the abdominal aorta; supplies the hindgut, including the distal third of the transverse colon, descending colon, sigmoid colon, and superior rectum.

Left colic artery

Branch of the inferior mesenteric artery; supplies the descending colon and contributes to blood supply near the left colic flexure.

Sigmoid arteries

Branches of the inferior mesenteric artery; supply the sigmoid colon.

Superior rectal artery

Continuation of the inferior mesenteric artery; supplies the superior rectum.

Lumbar arteries

Paired segmental branches of the abdominal aorta; supply the posterior abdominal wall.

Common iliac arteries

Form when the abdominal aorta divides near L4; each divides into an internal iliac artery and an external iliac artery.

Internal iliac artery

Supplies the pelvic walls, pelvic organs, gluteal region, and perineum through its branches.

Uterine artery

Usually a branch of the internal iliac artery; supplies the uterus and contributes to blood supply of the uterine tubes and vagina.

Ovarian artery pathway

Abdominal aorta → ovarian artery → ovary.

Uterine artery pathway

Abdominal aorta → common iliac artery → internal iliac artery → uterine artery → uterus.

External iliac artery

Continues toward the lower limb and becomes the femoral artery after passing beneath the inguinal ligament.

Arterial pathway to the ascending colon

Abdominal aorta → superior mesenteric artery → usually right colic artery.

Arterial pathway to the jejunum

Abdominal aorta → superior mesenteric artery → jejunal arteries.

Arterial pathway to the descending colon

Abdominal aorta → inferior mesenteric artery → left colic artery.

Arterial pathway to the sigmoid colon

Abdominal aorta → inferior mesenteric artery → sigmoid arteries.

Arterial pathway to the spleen

Abdominal aorta → celiac trunk → splenic artery.

Arterial pathway to the right kidney

Abdominal aorta → right renal artery.

Arterial pathway to the superior rectum

Abdominal aorta → inferior mesenteric artery → superior rectal artery.

Arterial pathway to the uterus

Abdominal aorta → common iliac artery → internal iliac artery → uterine artery.