Transcript-Abdominal Vasculature

PHT 5127C: Integrated Foundational Sciences II Unit 2.7 Abdominal Vasculature

Introduction

• Overview of abdominal vasculature including major arteries and their branches.

Abdominal Aorta

• Begins at T12, passing through the diaphragm's aortic hiatus.

• Descends along the anterior aspect of the vertebrae.

• Bifurcates into common iliac arteries at the level of L4.

Common Iliac Arteries

• Divide into:

  • Internal Iliac Arteries: Supply pelvic structures.

  • External Iliac Arteries: Supply abdominal wall and inguinal region; becomes the femoral artery below the inguinal ligament.

Classification of Arteries from the Abdominal Aorta

• Arteries classified into vascular planes:

  • Anterior Midline Plane: Supplies the gut.

  • Lateral Plane: Supplies genitourinary organs.

  • Posterolateral Plane: Supplies abdominal walls.

Anterior Midline Plane

• 3 Unpaired Arteries:

  • Celiac Trunk (at T12): Supplies foregut organs (esophagus, stomach, duodenum, pancreas, liver, gallbladder, spleen).

  • Superior Mesenteric Artery (at L1): Supplies midgut organs.

  • Inferior Mesenteric Artery (at L3): Supplies hindgut organs.

Lateral Vascular Plane

• 4 Arteries associated with urogenital and endocrine organs:

  • Superior Suprarenal Artery: Supplies suprarenal glands.

  • Middle Suprarenal Artery: Supplies suprarenal glands.

  • Renal Artery: Supplies kidneys.

  • Gonadal Arteries (at L3): Supply ovaries/testes, descending toward lateral pelvic brim.

Posterolateral Plane

• Supplies diaphragm and abdominal walls:

  • Inferior Phrenic Arteries (T12): Supplies diaphragm.

  • Lumbar Arteries (L1-L4): Supply posterior and lateral abdominal muscles and parts of the spinal cord.

Anterolateral Abdominal Wall Supply

• Supplied by:

  • Internal Thoracic Arteries:

    • Superior Epigastric Artery: Terminal branch supplying anterior abdominal wall.

    • Musculophrenic Artery: Supplies hypochondrium.

  • External Iliac and Femoral Arteries:

    • Inferior Epigastric Artery: Supplies anterior abdominal wall.

Deep and Superficial Circumflex Arteries

• Supply inguinal and pubic regions of the abdominal wall.

Gastrointestinal Tract Organization

• Divided into foregut, midgut, and hindgut based on embryological origin:

  • Foregut: Oral pharynx to duodenum; supplied by branches of the celiac trunk.

Celiac Trunk Overview

• Branches include:

  • Splenic Artery: Supplies stomach, pancreas, and spleen.

  • Left Gastric Artery: Supplies lesser curvature of stomach and esophagus.

  • Common Hepatic Artery: Supplies stomach, duodenum, pancreas, liver, gallbladder.

Midgut Overview

• Includes parts of the duodenum; supplied by:

  • Superior Mesenteric Artery (at L1): Supplies branches to the small intestine, cecum, appendix, ascending colon.

Anastomosis of Pancreaticoduodenal Arteries

• Connection between celiac trunk and superior mesenteric artery at duodenum junction.

• Transition of blood supply from celiac trunk to superior mesenteric artery for digestive tract.

Hindgut Overview

• Begins at left colic flexure; supplied by:

  • Inferior Mesenteric Artery (at L3): Supplies rectum, sigmoid colon, descending colon.

  • Anastomosis with Middle Colic Artery: via marginal artery of colon for collateral blood supply.

Hepatic Portal Vein

• Formed by union of splenic and superior mesenteric veins.

• Filters high concentration of minerals and metabolites from the digestive tract.

• Drains into the liver,

• Blood from liver filtered and then drained via hepatic veins into inferior vena cava.

Other Veins in Posterior Abdomen

• Renal veins and lumbar veins drain directly into the inferior vena cava without needing to filter.

• Veins participating in systemic circulation and their connections are also emphasized.