194 ANATOMY FOR NURSES [Chap. XI 



Visceral group : — 



(a) The coeliac axis is a short, wide vessel, usually not more than 

 half an inch (12.5 mm.) in length, which arises from the front of the 

 aorta, just below the opening in the diaphragm. It divides into 

 three branches; viz. (1) the gastric, which supplies the stomach; 



Fig. 123. — Superior Mesenteric Artery. (Gerrish.) 



(2) the hepatic, which supplies the liver and the duodenum or 

 portion of the intestine nearest to the stomach; and (3) the 

 splenic, which supplies the spleen, and .also takes part in the blood 

 supply of the stomach and pancreas. 



(6) The superior mesenteric artery arises from the fore part of 

 the aorta, a little below the coeliac axis. It supplies the whole of 



