I04 ANATOMY OF THE RABBIT 



are known by the names of the organs or parts which they 

 support. 



A. ABDOMINAL AORTA AND PRINCIPAL BRANCHES 



(Fig. 28) 



42. Celiac artery (coeliac axis): Aorta; by branches to 

 the spleen (43), stomach, duodenum, and pancreas (44) and 

 Hver (45) . It arises from the abdominal aorta between the 

 crura of the diaphragm (Fig. 28, CD). 



43. Splenic a.: Celiac axis, often close to aorta; to spleen 

 and pancreas. The celiac passes dorsad of the stomach and 

 sends important branches into this organ. Lift the stomach 

 cranioventrad in order to follow this artery. 



44. Gastroduodenal a. : Celiac axis at origin of hepatic a. ; 

 by branches to pyloric end of stomach (right gastroepiploic a.) 

 duodenum and pancreas (superior pancreaticoduodenalis a.). 

 The gastroduodenal artery is really a continuation of the 

 celiac axis of which the hepatic is a branch. At the point where 

 the hepatic artery arises the larger artery, the celiac, now known 

 as the gastroduodenal, arises caudolaterad to the hepatic 

 branch, passes dorsad to the pyloric end of the stomach and 

 then follows the small intestine until it forms a very important 

 anastomosis (by the superior pancreaticoduodenalis a.) with 

 a cranial branch of the superior mesenteric a. (47) which in 

 turn is called the inferior pancreaticoduodenalis. 



45. Hepatic a.: Celiac axis; to liver. Method: Gently 

 lift the caudal portion of the hver and with the grooved director 

 carefully dissect dorsad in the lesser curvature of the stomach 

 between the pyloris and the SpigeHan (caudal) lobe of the Hver 

 until the hepatic a., which courses along the right side of this 

 small lobe and ventrad to the hepatic portal vein (p. 107) is 

 located. Follow the hepatic a. under the stomach toward its 

 origin. 



46. Lumbar aa.: Aorta; to muscles of back; six or more, 

 usually single, dorsal branches occurring from craniad to or at 



