THE CIRCULATORY OR VASCULAR SYSTEM 113 



The gastric (sometimes called the coronary) passes 

 along the lesser curvature of the stomach, anastomosing 

 with the esophageal, splenic, and hepatic arteries. 



The hepatic artery passes along the border of the lesser 

 omentum to the liver, where it gives off the following 

 branches: Pancreatic, pyloric, gastroduodenalis, and 

 cystic. These are distributed to the parts indicated by the 

 names, and anastomose with the splenic, gastric, and 

 superior mesenteric arteries. 



The splenic is the largest of the three branches of the 

 celiac axis. It passes to the left along the upper border of 

 the pancreas, and divides into five or six branches, which 

 enter the spleen at its hilum and are distributed to the 

 structure of the spleen. This is what is called a serpentine 

 artery, since it pursues an extremely tortuous course. It 

 has the following branches : 



Pancreaticae parvae. Vasa brevia. 



Pancreatica magna. Gastro-epiploica sinistra. 



The superior mesenteric artery is given off from 

 the abdominal aorta about J inch below the celiac axis, 

 and passes downward and forward from left to right; it 

 is distributed to the small intestine, with the exception of 

 the first part of the duodenum. It gives off five branches: 



Inferior pancreaticoduodenal. Ileocolic. 



Vasa intestini tenuis. . Colica dextra. 



Colica media. 



The inferior mesenteric artery is given off from 

 the aorta about 2 inches above the bifurcation, passing to 

 the left and supplying the descending colon, sigmoid 

 flexure, and part of the rectum, anastomosing with the 

 colica media, and distributing branches to the transverse 

 colon. It gives off the following branches: colica sinistra, 

 sigmoid, and superior hemorrhoidal ; these furnish nutri- 



8 



