The branches of the celiac trunk

Area of Science:

• Anatomy
• Vascular Surgery
• Radiology

Background:

• The celiac trunk is a major artery supplying blood to the upper abdominal organs.
• Variations in celiac trunk anatomy can complicate surgical procedures and diagnostic interpretations.

Purpose of the Study:

• To classify the celiac trunk based on its main arterial stems.
• To describe the anatomical variations and directional influences on the celiac trunk.

Main Methods:

• Exploration of 156 abdominal preparations.
• Utilized arteriography, corrosion casting, and dissection techniques.

Main Results:

• The celiac trunk is best understood as having three primary stems: splenic, hepatic, and left gastric arteries.
• The left gastric artery exhibits significant origin variability, often arising from the celiac trunk or aorta.
• Hepatic artery origin and pancreatic neck topography influence celiac trunk direction; the hepatic artery typically directs the trunk rightward.

Conclusions:

• A simplified classification focusing on the three main stems aids in understanding celiac trunk anatomy.
• Recognizing variations in the left gastric artery and trunk direction is crucial for clinical practice.
• Pediatric hepatic artery diameter is notably larger than the splenic artery, a contrast to adult anatomy.