302 ABDOMEN 



of the gall-bladder, between the gall-bladder and its peritoneal 

 covering. 



The cystic vein joins the vena portae or its right branch. 



Arteria Lienalis. The splenic artery is the largest 

 branch of the cceliac artery. It takes a wavy or tortuous 

 course towards the left side, along the upper border of the 

 pancreas, behind the omental bursa ; and it ends, in front of 

 the left kidney, by dividing into five or six branches, which 

 enter the hilum of the spleen. 



It is accompanied by the splenic vein, which, however, 

 lies at a lower level, and therefore altogether behind the 

 pancreas. 



The following are the branches of the splenic artery : 



i. Arterue pancreaticoe. 



. . . f Aa. gastricce breves. 



C3e * \A. gastro-epiploica sinistra. 

 3. Rami lienales. 



The pancreatic arteries are small twigs which come off 

 at various points for the supply of the pancreas. 



The pancreatica magna branch, which is sometimes described as 

 accompanying the duct from left to right in the substance of the pancreas, 

 is more commonly absent than present. 



The sJwrt gastric arteries (O.T. Vasa Brevia} are five 

 or six small arteries, of which some arise directly from the 

 splenic, whilst others take origin from its terminal branches. 

 They run towards the stomach, between the two layers of 

 the gastro-splenic ligament, and are distributed to the cardiac 

 part of the viscus (see p. 299), anastomosing with the left 

 gastric and left gastro epiploic arteries. 



The left gastro epiploic artery takes origin from the splenic, 

 near the spleen, or from one of its terminal branches. It 

 .runs forwards, in the gastro-splenic ligament, and then turns 

 to the right, along the greater curvature of the stomach, 

 between the anterior two layers of the greater omentum, and 

 it ends by anastomosing with the right gastro-epiploic artery. 

 Some of its branches ascend, others descend. The ascending 

 branches supply both surfaces of the stomach, and they 

 anastomose with branches of the right and left gastric arteries 

 and with the short gastric arteries. The descending branches 

 pass downwards, between the two anterior layers of the 

 greater omentum, and they may anastomose with branches of 

 the middle colic artery. 



