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ANGIOLOGY 





The pancreatic branches (rami pancreatici) are numerous small vessels derived 

 from the lienal as it runs behind the upper border of the pancreas, supplying its 

 body and tail. One of these, larger than the rest, is sometimes given off near the 

 tail of the pancreas; it runs from left to right near the posterior surface of the gland, 

 following the course of the pancreatic duct, and is called the arteria pancreatica 

 magna. These vessels anastomose with the pancreatic branches of the pancreatico- 

 duodenal and superior mesenteric arteries. 



FIG. 534. The superior mesenteric artery and its branches. 



The short gastric arteries (aa. gastricce breves; vasa brevia) consist of from five to 

 seven small branches, which arise from the end of the lienal artery, and from its 

 terminal divisions. They pass from left to right, between the layers of the gastro- 

 lienal ligament, and are distributed to the greater curvature of the stomach, anasto- 

 mosing with branches of the left gastric and left gastroepiploic arteries. 



The left gastroepiploic artery (a. gastroepiploica sinistra) the largest branch of the 

 lienal, runs from left to right about a ringer's breadth or more from the greater 

 curvature of the stomach, between the layers of the greater omentum, and anasto- 

 moses with the right gastroepiploic. In its course it distributes several ascending 

 branches to both surfaces of the stomach; others descend to supply the greater 

 omentum and anastomose with branches of the middle colic. 



The superior mesenteric artery (a. mesenterica superior] (Fig. 534) is a large 



