Splenic artery

Artery: Splenic artery
The visceral surface of the spleen.
Branches of the celiac artery. (Lienal artery is an old term for splenic artery, and is visible at center. The spleen is at center right. The stomach has been flipped out to reveal the splenic artery, so the greater curvature is at the top in this diagram.)
Latin	arteria splenica, arteria lienalis
Gray's	subject #154 605
Supplies	spleen
Source	celiac artery
Branches	Pancreatic branches Pancreatica magna Left gastro-omental Short gastric Trabecular arteries
Vein	splenic vein
MeSH	Splenic+Artery

In anatomy, the splenic artery (in the past called the lienal artery) is the blood vessel that supplies oxygenated blood to the spleen. It branches from the celiac artery, and follows a course superior to the pancreas.

Branches

The splenic artery gives off branches to the stomach and pancreas before reaching the spleen.

Note that the branches of the splenic artery do not reach all the way to the lower part of the greater curvature of the stomach. Instead, that region is supplied by the right gastroepiploic artery, a branch of the gastroduodenal artery. The two gastroepiploic arteries anastomose with each other at that point.

Vein

Along its course, it is accompanied by a similarly named vein, the splenic vein, which drains into the portal vein.

Pathology

Splenic artery aneurysms are rare^[1], but still the third most common abdominal aneurysm^[2] (after aneurysms of the abdominal aorta and iliac arteries).

They may occur in pregnant women in the 3rd trimester and have a mortality of 70% - 90%.

Additional images

The celiac artery and its branches.

Transverse section of the human spleen, showing the distribution of the splenic artery and its branches.

Section of the spleen, showing the termination of the small bloodvessels.

Posterior abdominal wall, after removal of the peritoneum, showing kidneys, suprarenal capsules, and great vessels.

Arteries and veins around the pancreas and spleen.

References

1. ^ Abbas MA, Stone WM, Fowl RJ, Gloviczki P, Oldenburg WA, Pairolero PC, Hallett JW, Bower TC, Panneton JM, Cherry KJ Splenic artery aneurysms: two decades experience at Mayo clinic. Ann Vasc Surg. 2002 Jul;16(4):442-9. PMID 12089631
2. ^ Jamsheer NS, Malik M, Ruptured splenic artery aneurysm, URL: http://www.kfshrc.edu.sa/annals/215_216/01-094.htm, Accessed July 30, 2005.

External links

• Ruptured splenic artery aneurysm - a case report from Saudi Arabia.
• Splenic artery - medterms.com
• Gray's s278 - "The Spleen"
• SUNY Labs 38:05-0101 - "Stomach, Spleen and Liver: The Splenic Artery"
• SUNY Anatomy Image 8557
• celiactrunk at The Anatomy Lesson by Wesley Norman (Georgetown University)
• pancreas at The Anatomy Lesson by Wesley Norman (Georgetown University)