224 CIRCULATORY SYSTEM. 



is distributed, in the same manner, throughout the left lobe of 

 the liver. 



3. The Splenic Artery (Jlrteria Splenica) is larger in the 

 adult than either of the other two branches of the cceliac, and 

 goes to the spleen along the superior margin of the pancreas, 

 performing, in this course, several considerable flexuosities. It 

 gives off the following branches: 



a. The Pancreatic Arteries, (Art. Pancreaticce Medice et Si- 

 nistrce) come successively from its inferior margin, as it goes 

 along the pancreas. Their number and size are variable, but 

 commonly they are not bigger than a knitting needle: they pe- 

 netrate perpendicularly into the pancreas, and then subdivide 

 minutely in furnishing its structure. 



b. The Left Gastric Artery (Art. Gastrica Sinistra, Gastro- 

 epipfoica Sinistra) comes from the left extremity of the splenic, 

 and is about the same size with the right gastric artery, but 

 sometimes larger. It attaches itself to the left extremity of the 

 stomach, and goes along the left half of its greater curvature, 

 terminating by an anastomosis with the right gastric artery. 

 In this course, it detaches ramifications to the front and to the 

 back of the stomach, and to the omentum majus. 



c. The Short Vessels (Vasa Brevia, Art. Gastricce Breves) 

 come from the splenic, immediately before it enters the spleen, 

 and after it has subdivided for that purpose. They are five or 

 six in number, and are distributed upon the greater extremity 

 of the stomach, between the cardia and the left gastric artery. 

 The anastomoses between the several arteries of the stomach 

 are so free, that a fine injection pushed into one, readily finds 

 its way into all the others. 



The splenic artery, when it gets to the left end of the pan- 

 creas, is divided into a cluster of branches, and in that condition 

 enters the fissure of the spleen, throughout the interior of which 

 it is divided into an infinitude of ramifications. 



The Superior Mesenteric Artery (Arteria Mesenterica Supe- 

 rior) arises from the aorta, while the latter is still engaged, be- 

 tween the crura of the diaphragm. It is about the same size 

 as the coeliac, and comes off half an inch below it. It is dis- 



