428 ARTERIES OF THE ABDOMEN. 



usuallj- coining from the coronary artery of the stoniacli. The hepatic artery 

 has been found to furnish a phrenic branch. 



3. The splenic artery, in the adult the largest branch of the coeliac 

 axis, su])plies the spleen, and in part the stomach and pancreas. It 

 is directed horizontally towards the left side. Waving and often tor- 

 tuous in its course, it passes, together with the splenic vein which is 

 below it, behind the upper iDorder of the pancreas, and divides near 

 the spleen into several branches. The largest of these enter the fissure 

 in that organ, nnd are distributed to its substance ; three or four are 

 reflected towards the bulging end of the stomach, upon which they 

 ramify. 



Branches. — (a) i'^wrvrrt^/c branches, variable in size and number, are given 

 off wdiilst the artery is passing- along the pancreas, the middle and left part of 

 which tliey supply with vessels. One of larger size not unfrequently runs 

 from left to right in the direction of the pancreatic duct, and is called j^unciratica 

 mafjnci. 



(J)) The splenic branches are the proper terminal branches of the artery ; they 

 are five or six, or even more, in number, and vary in length and size ; they enter 

 the spleen by the hilus or fissure in its concave surface, and ramify within 

 that organ. 



(c) The xhovt r/axfr'w branches (ram Ijrcria) vaiy from five to seven in number ; 

 they are directed from left to right, some issuing from the trunk of the splenic 

 artery, others from its terminal branches : they reach the left extremity of the 

 stomach, where they divide and spread out between the coats, communicating 

 with tlie coronaiy and left gastro-ei^iploic arteries. 



(d) The left (in.stro-cplplolc artery runs from left to right along the great cur- 

 vature of the stomach, supplying branches to both surfaces of the stomach and 

 to the omenti^m on the left side, and inosculates with the right gastro-epii^loic 

 branch from the hepatic artery. 



The sTiperior mesenteric, an artery of large size, supplies the whole 

 of the small intestine beyond the duodenum, and half of the great 

 intestine. It arises from the fore part of the aorta, a little below tlw 

 cosliac axi.?. For a short space this artery is covered by the pancreas ; 

 on emerging from below that gland it descends in front of the duo- 

 denum near the end, and is thence continued between the layers of the 

 mesentery. The splenic vein crosses over its root. In the mesentery 

 the artery at first passes downwards and to the left side, but afterwards 

 turns towards the right iliac fossa, opposite to whicli it inosculates with 

 its own ileo-colic branch. 



Branches. — {a) The inferior jmncrcatico-duodcnal, given off under 

 ■cover of the pancreas, runs along the concave border of the duodenum, 

 and joins with the superior pancreatico-duodenal artcr}'. 



(h) The rami iniestini fe/ri/in, or intestinal branches, supplying the 

 jejunum and ileum, spring from the convex or left side of the vessel. 

 They are usually twelve or more in number, and are all included be- 

 tween the layers of the mesentery. They run parallel to one another 

 for some distance, and then divide into two branches, each of which 

 forms an arch with the neighbouring branch. From the first set of 

 arches,' other branches issue, which divide and communicate in the 

 same way, until finally, after forming four or five such tiers of arches, 

 each smaller than the other, the ultimate divisions of the vessels pro- 

 ceed directly to the intestine, spreading upon both sides, and ramifying 

 in its coats. 



