ABDOMINAL AORTA. 



141 



somewhat longer than the left. They are received in the intercostal 

 groove upon the under edge of each rib, for two-thirds of its length. 



ABDOMINAL AORTA. 



Phrenic.^ — These are two in number, one for each side of the 

 diaphragm, to which they 



are distributed ; sometimes Fig. 122. 



they arise by a common 

 trunk and from the coeliac. 



Coeliac axis.^ — A short, 

 thick trunk about half an 

 inch in length, given off 

 opposite the junction of the 

 last dorsal and first lumbar 

 vertebra ; it divides into 

 the gastric, hepatic, and 

 splenic. 



Gastric,^ is the smallest 

 branch of the coeliac, and 

 supplies the lesser curva- 

 ture of the stomach. 



Hepatic,^ enters the trans- 

 verse fissure of the liver 

 and divides into two or 

 three branches, before en- 

 tering the substance of the 

 liver. It gives off the cys- 

 tic, which supplies the gall- 

 bladder, and the right gas- 

 tro-epiploic, which supplies 

 the right side of the greater 

 curvature of the stomach. 



Splenic. — This is the 

 largest branch of the coe- 

 liac. It is very tortuous 

 and passes transversely to 

 the spleen over the upper edge of the pancreas ; from it are given off 

 Xhevasa brevia and left gastro-epiploic <2rter^e5, supplying the left ex- 

 tremity and left side of the greater curvature. 



Superior mesenteric,^ arises below the coeliac and is nearly as 

 large. It passes beneath the pancreas^ and over the colon, and is 

 distributed by a nximber of branches to the small intestine, and by 

 these branches to the right side of the large, viz. : ileo-colic,^^ supply- 

 ing the csecum and a portion of the ileum ; colica dextra^* supplying 



