Arteries of the Abdomen

Question 1

Describe the coeliac trunk.

Answer 1

The coeliac trunk is a major artery of the abdomen. It arises from the abdominal aorta and supplies many of the GI viscera.

Question 2

What is the anatomical position of the coeliac trunk?

Answer 2

The coeliac trunk is the second branch of the abdominal aorta. It arises from the anterior aspect of the aorta, at the aortic hiatus of the diaphragm (T12 level).

Question 3

What are the major branches of the coeliac trunk?

Answer 3

left gastric, splenic and common hepatic arteries.

Question 4

Describe the course of the left gastric artery.

Answer 4

The left gastric artery ascends across the diaphragm, giving rise to esophageal branches, before continuing anteriorly along the lesser curvature of the stomach. Here, it anastamoses with the right gastric artery.

Question 5

Describe the course of the splenic artery.

Answer 5

It travels left towards the spleen, running posterior to the stomach and along the superior margin of the pancreas. It terminates into five branches which supply the segments of the spleen.

Question 6

What areas do branches of the splenic artery supply?

Answer 6

spleen
fundus and greater curvature of stomach
body and tail of pancreas

Question 7

What artery is the sole arterial supply to the liver?

Answer 7

Common hepatic artery.

Question 8

Describe the course of the common hepatic artery.

Answer 8

As it travels past the superior aspect of the duodenum, it divides into its two terminal branches - the proper hepatic and gastroduodenal arteries.

Question 9

Which branches does the proper hepatic artery give rise to?

Answer 9

Right gastric
Right and left hepatic
Cystic

Question 10

which branch of the proper hepatic > right hepatic artery supplies the gallbladder?

Answer 10

cystic artery (branch of the right hepatic artery).

Question 11

Which branch of the proper hepatic artery supplies the pylorus and lesser curvature of the stomach?

Answer 11

right gastric artery

Question 12

which branches of the proper hepatic artery supply the liver?

Answer 12

right and left hepatic.

Question 13

What areas does the gastroduodenal artery supply?

Answer 13

pylorus of stomach
superior part of duodenum
head of pancreas

Question 14

What is the only organ to receive arterial supply from the three branches of the coeliac trunk? and how is this achieved?

Answer 14

The stomach.
Through a system of anastomoses along the greater and lesser curvatures of the stomach.

Question 15

Describe the superior mesenteric artery (SMA).

Answer 15

The SMA is a major artery of the abdomen. It arises from the abdominal aorta, and supplies arterial blood to the organs of the midgut.

Question 16

What is the anatomical position of the SMA?

Answer 16

The SMA is the second of the three major anterior branches of the abdominal aorta. It arises anteriorly from the abdominal aorta at the level of the L1 vertebrae, immediately inferior to the origin of the coeliac trunk.

Question 17

Which structures are anterior to the SMA?

Answer 17

pyloric part of the stomach, splenic vein and neck of the pancreas.

Question 18

which structures are posterior to the SMA?

Answer 18

left renal vein, ucinate process of the pancreas and inferior part of the duodenum.

Question 19

What areas do branches of the SMA supply?

Answer 19

small intestines, cecum, ascending and part of transverse colon.

Question 20

which branch of the SMA supplies the transverse colon?

Answer 20

middle colic artery

Question 21

which branch of the SMA supplies the ascending colon?

Answer 21

right colic artery.

Question 22

What is the mesentery?

Answer 22

The mesentery is a double fold of peritoneal tissue that suspends the small intestine and large intestine from the posterior abdominal wall.

Question 23

Describe the inferior mesenteric artery (IMA).

Answer 23

The IMA is a major branch of the abdominal aorta. It supplies arterial blood to the organs of the hindgut.

Question 24

What is the anatomical position of the IMA?

Answer 24

The IMA is the last of the three major branches of the abdominal aorta. It arises at L3, near the inferior border of the duodenum, 3-4cm abover where the aorta bifurcates into the common iliac arteries.

Question 25

Why is the IMA a retroperitoneal structure?

Answer 25

It is situated behind the peritoneum.

Question 26

What are the three major branches of the IMA?

Answer 26

left colic artery
sigmoid artery
superior rectal artery

Question 27

Which branch of the IMA supplies the distal 1/3 of the transverse colon and descending colon?

Answer 27

Left colic artery

Question 28

Which branch of the IMA supplies the descending and sigmoid colon?

Answer 28

sigmoid arteries

Question 29

Which branch of the IMA supplies the rectum?

Answer 29

Superior rectal artery.

Question 30

which branch of the SMA supplies the pancreas, ucinate and duodenum?

Answer 30

Inferior Pancreaticoduodenal Artery

Question 31

which branches of the SMA supply the jejunum and ileum?

Answer 31

Jejunal and Ileal Arteries

Question 32

which branch of the SMA supplies the caecum, ascending colon, appendix and ileum?

Answer 32

iliocolic artery