THE CfELIAC AXIS. 611 



The Gastric Artery (Coronaria ventriculi), the smallest of the three branches 

 of the coeliac axis, passes upward and to the left side, to the cardiac orifice of 

 the stomach, distributing branches to the oesophagus which anastomose with the 

 aortic oesophageal arteries ; others supply the cardiac end of the stomach, inoscu- 

 lating with branches of the splenic artery ; it then passes from left to right, 

 along the lesser curvature of the stomach to the pylorus, lying in its course 

 between the layers of the lesser omentum, and giving branches to both surfaces 

 of the organ : at its termination it anastomoses with the pyloric branch of the 

 hepatic. 



The Hepatic Artery in the adult is intermediate in size between the gastric and 

 splenic ; in the foetus it is the largest of the three branches of the coeliac axis. It 

 is first directed forward and to the right, to the upper margin of the pyloric end 

 of the stomach, crossing under the foramen of Winslow. It then passes upward 

 between the layers of the lesser omentum, near the anterior margin of the fora- 

 men of Winslow, to the transverse fissure of the liver, where it divides into two 

 branches, right and left, which supply the corresponding lobes of that organ, 

 accompanying the ramifications of the vena portse and hepatic duct. The hepatic 

 artery, in its course along the right border of the lesser omentum, is in relation 

 with the ductus communis choledochus and portal veins, the duct lying to the 

 right of the artery and the vena portse behind. 



Its branches are the 



Pyloric. 



i , v ( Gastro-epiploica Dextra. 

 (jastro-duodenahs < ^ 5 j j r a 



\ Pancreatico-duodenahs Superior. 



Cystic. 



The pyloric branch arises from the hepatic, above the pylorus, descends to the 

 pyloric end of the stomach, and passes from right to left along its lesser curvature, 

 supplying it with branches and inosculating with the gastric artery. 



The gastro-duodenalis (Fig. 369) is a short but large branch which descends, 

 near the pylorus, behind the first portion of the duodenum, at the lower border of 

 which it divides into two branches, the gastro-epiploica dextra and the pancreatico- 

 duodenalis superior. Previous to its division it gives off two or three small inferior 

 pyloric branches to the pyloric end of the stomach and pancreas. 



The gastro-epiploica dextra runs from right to left along the greater curvature 

 of the stomach, between the layers of the great omentum, anastomosing about the 

 middle of the lower border of the stomach with the gastro-epiploica sinistra from 

 the splenic artery. This vessel gives off numerous branches, some of which ascend 

 to supply both surfaces of the stomach, whilst others descend to supply the great 

 omentum. 



The pancreatico-duodenalis superior descends between the contiguous margins 

 of the duodenum and pancreas. It supplies both these organs, and anastomoses 

 with the inferior pancreatico-duodenal branch of the superior mesenteric artery 

 and with the pancreatic branches of the splenic. 



The cystic artery (Fig. 368), usually a branch of the right hepatic, passes 

 upward and forward along the neck of the gall-bladder, and divides into two 

 branches, one of which ramifies on its free surface, the other between it and the 

 substance of the liver. 



The Splenic Artery, in the adult, is the largest of the three branches of the 

 coeliac axis, and is remarkable for the extreme -tortuosity of its course. It passes 

 horizontally to the left side along the upper border of the pancreas, accompanied 

 by the splenic vein, which lies below it, and on arriving near the spleen divides 

 into branches, some of which enter the hilum of that organ to be distributed to its 

 structure, whilst others are distributed to the great end of the stomach. Its 

 branches are the 



Pancreaticse Parvae. Gastric (Vasa Brevia). 



Pancreatica Magnu. Gastro-epiploica Sinistra. 



