551 



The Cceliac Axis (Fig. 308). 



To expose this artery raise the liver, draw down the stomach, and then tear through the 

 layers of the lesser omentum. 



The Cceliac Axis is a short thick trunk, about half an inch in length, which 



Cystic artery 



FIG. 308. The cceliac axis and its branches, the liver having been raised and the lesser omentum removed. 



arises from the aorta, close to the margin of the opening in the Diaphragm, and, 

 passing nearly horizontally forward (in the erect posture), divides into three large 

 branches, the gastric, hepatic, and splenic, occasionally giving off one of the 

 phrenic arteries. 



Relations. It is covered by the lesser omentum. On the right side it is in 

 relation with the right semilunar ganglion and the lobus Spigelii ; on the left side, 

 with the left semilunar ganglion and cardiac end of the stomach. Below, it rests 

 upon the upper border of the pancreas. 



The Gastric or Coronary Artery, 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 oesopha- 

 geal arteries ; others supply the cardiac end of the stomach, inosculating 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 ter- 

 mination 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 



