THE SPLENIC ARTERY. 287 



The Gastrica Inferior Dextra, 



Which also generally originates from the main trunk of the 

 hepatic, but sometimes from one of its branches. It is an 

 artery of considerable size, which proceeds along the great 

 curvature of the stomach, from the pylorus towards the great 

 extremity between the lamina of the anterior portion of the 

 omentum, and distributes its ramifications to both sides of the 

 stomach, and also to the Omentum. In its progress from the 

 hepatic artery to the stomach, it sends off branches to the Duo- 

 denum and to the right end of the Pancreas. 



The two great branches into which the hepatic artery 

 divides, are denominated right and left, from the lobes of the 

 viscus to which they are respectively appropriated. The right 

 branch is the largest. Before it penetrates the substance of the 

 liver, it sends off a branch to the gall-bladder, called the Cystic 

 Artery. 



The branches of the hepatic artery ramify very minutely in 

 the liver, as has been stated in the account of that organ. 



The last great branch of the coeliac is 



The Splenic Artery, 



Which is generally found larger than the hepatic in adults, 

 although it is less in children. It proceeds in a transverse 

 direction from its origin to the spleen : its course is not 

 straight, but meandering or serpentine. It is situated behind 

 and above the pancreas, and passes along the groove in the 

 upper edge of that viscus. In its progress, it sends off many 

 small branches, and one that is of considerable size, called 

 pancreaticus magnus, to the Pancreas. It also sends one 

 branch to the left extremity of the stomach, which arises com- 

 monly from the main trunk, but sometimes from the ramifica- 

 tions, which are soon to be mentioned. This branch, which is 

 called 



The Gastrica Inferior Sinistra, 



Or left gastro-epiploic artery is sometimes, but not often very 

 large : its course is from left to right, along the great curvature 



