Celiac trunk

The celiac trunk, also known as the celiac artery, is the first major branch of the abdominal aorta. It is about 1.25 cm in length, in a horizontal direction. Branching from the aorta at T12 vertebra, it is one of three anterior/midline branches of the abdominal aorta (the others are the superior and inferior mesenteric arteries). 

There are three main divisions of the celiac artery, and each in turn has its own named branches. The three divisions and their branches are: 

• Left gastric artery: esophageal branch, stomach branch

• Common hepatic artery: proper hepatic artery, right gastric artery, gastroduodenal artery

• Splenic artery: dorsal pancreatic artery, short gastric arteries, left gastro-omental artery, greater pancreatic artery

The celiac artery may also give rise to the inferior phrenic arteries.

The celiac artery is the only major artery that nourishes the abdominal digestive organs that does not have a similarly named vein.

Most blood returning from the digestive organs (including from the area of distribution of the celiac artery) is diverted to the liver via the portal venous system for further processing and detoxification in the liver before returning to the systemic circulation via the hepatic veins.

In contrast to the drainage of midgut and hindgut structures by the superior mesenteric vein and inferior mesenteric vein respectively, venous return from the coeliac artery is through either the splenic vein emptying into the hepatic portal vein or via smaller tributaries of the portal venous system.