Abdominal Arterial and Venous Supply: Celiac, Superior Mesenteric, and Inferior Mesenteric Systems

A set of question-and-answer flashcards reviewing arterial branches of the celiac, superior mesenteric, and inferior mesenteric systems, as well as related venous drainage.

Which major vessels supply the foregut, midgut, and hindgut, respectively?

Foregut – celiac trunk; Midgut – superior mesenteric artery; Hindgut – inferior mesenteric artery

Name the three primary branches that arise directly from the celiac trunk.

Left gastric artery, splenic artery, common hepatic artery

Which foregut artery supplies the lesser curvature of the stomach and distal esophagus?

Left gastric artery

Which celiac branch is characteristically tortuous and supplies the spleen?

Splenic artery

What small branches arise from the splenic artery to supply the pancreas?

Pancreatic arteries

Which arteries supply the fundus of the stomach along the greater curvature and arise near the splenic hilum?

Short gastric arteries

From which vessel does the left gastroepiploic (gastro-omental) artery originate?

Splenic artery

Which artery is the main blood supply to the liver and arises from the common hepatic artery?

Hepatic artery proper

Into which two vessels does the hepatic artery proper divide within the liver?

Left hepatic artery and right hepatic artery

Which artery usually branches from the right hepatic artery to supply the gallbladder?

Cystic artery

What artery supplies the right portion of the lesser curvature of the stomach and branches from the common hepatic artery?

Right gastric artery

Which artery courses behind the pylorus to supply the stomach and duodenum, giving rise to pancreaticoduodenal branches?

Gastroduodenal artery

Name the paired branches of the gastroduodenal artery that run on the anterior and posterior surfaces of the pancreatic head.

Anterior and posterior superior pancreaticoduodenal arteries

Which vessel supplies the greater curvature on the right side and anastomoses with the left gastroepiploic artery?

Right gastroepiploic (gastro-omental) artery

The anterior and posterior inferior pancreaticoduodenal arteries arise from which major trunk?

Superior mesenteric artery

Which two characteristics differentiate jejunal from ileal arterial arcades and vasa recta?

Jejunal: fewer arcades, longer vasa recta; Ileal: more arcades, shorter vasa recta

Which branch of the SMA heads toward the ileocecal junction and gives off the appendicular artery?

Ileocolic artery

Which artery supplies the ascending colon?

Right colic artery

Which branch of the SMA supplies the transverse colon?

Middle colic artery

List the three principal branches of the inferior mesenteric artery.

Left colic artery, sigmoid arteries, superior rectal artery

Which artery forms an anastomotic channel along the colon connecting SMA and IMA territories?

Marginal artery of the colon (marginal artery of Drummond)

Into which vein does the inferior mesenteric vein typically drain?

Splenic vein

Which two veins unite to form the portal vein?

Splenic vein and superior mesenteric vein

What is the primary function of the portal vein?

Carry nutrient-rich blood from the gastrointestinal tract to the liver for first-pass metabolism