HEPATIC— SPLENIC bbl 



anastomoses along tlie lesser curvature of the stomach, as already mentioned, ^vith 

 the gastric artery, which descends from the opi)osite direction. 



(3) The gastro-duodenal arises from the hej)atic a little heyond the pyloric. 

 It descends behind the ascending jjortion of the duodemmi to the lower Ixn-der of 

 the ])yloriis, where it divides into the right gastro-epiploic and the superior 

 pancreatico-duodenal. It varies from half an inch to an inch in length. In 

 addition to the above branches, it may give off the inferior pyloric artery. 



(a) The right gastro-epiploic, entering the anterior fold of the great omentmn, 

 coasts from riglit to left along the greater curvature of the stomach, and anastomoses 

 with the left gastro-epiploic branch of the splenic, which descends from left to 

 right also along the greater curvature to meet it. From this anastomotic arch are 

 given off: — (i) Ascending or gastric branches, Avhich supply the anterior and 

 ])Osterior surfaces of the stomach, and anastomose with the descending gastric 

 branches of the arteries along the lesser curvature, (ii) Epiploic or omental 

 branches — long slender vessels, which descend between the two anterior layers of 

 the great omentum, and then, looping upwards, anastomose with similar slender 

 branches given off from the middle and left colic, and passing down in like manner 

 between the two i)osterior layers of the great omentum. 



{h) The superior pancreatico-duodenal — the smaller division of the gastro- 

 duodenal — arises from that vessel as it passes behind the first portion of the 

 duodenum, and courses downwards behind the peritoneum, in the anterior groove 

 between the second portion of the duodenum and the pancreas, to anastomose with 

 the inferior pancreatico-duodenal, a V)ranch of the supjerior mesenteric, which runs 

 upwards between the contiguous borders of the pancreas and duodenum. Both the 

 inferior and superior pancreatico-duodenal give off branches to the duodenum 

 and the pancreas. 



(c) The inferior pyloric arises either from the gastro-duodenal or from the 

 right gastro-epiploic; it supplies the pyloric end of the stomach, and anastomoses 

 with the other arteries in that situation. 



(4) The right terminal branch of the hepatic artery is given off at the portal 

 fissure of the liver, and runs to the right towards the end of that fissure, either 

 behind the hepatic and cystic ducts, or between these structures. At the right end 

 of the portal fissure it divides into two or more branches, which again subdivide as 

 they enter the liver substance for the supply of the right lobe. As it crosses the 

 cystic duct it gives off the cystic artery. 



(a) The cystic artery courses forwards and downwards through the angle 

 formed by the union of the hepatic and cystic ducts, and just before it reaches the 

 gall-bladder divides into a superficial and deep branch. The former breaks up into 

 a number of small vessels, Avhich ramify over the free surface of the gall-bladder 

 beneath the peritoneal covering, and furnish branches to the musc-ular and mucous 

 coats. The deep branch ramifies between the gall-bladder and the liver-substance, 

 sujiplying each, and anastomosing with the sujierficial branch. 



(5) The left terminal branch, the smaller division of the hepatic artery, runs 

 inwards towards the left end of the portal fissure, and, after giving oft' a distinct 

 branch to the Spigelian lobe, enters the left lobe of the liver. 



Chief variations. — (A) The hepatic artery may arise directly from tlie aorta, or from the 

 gastric, the superior mesenteric, or the risrht renal artery. (B) Totrether with a normal artery 

 there may be an accessory hepatic from one or other of the above-named or neighbouring 

 branches. (C) The hepatic artery may be altogether wanting, and its jilace suj^plied by one or 

 more accessory arteries derived from one or other of the above-named sources. This vtuiation is 

 explained by Hyrtl on the supposition that there has been oliliteration of the normal hepatic, 

 with enlargement of one or more of the minute branches which normally proceed from the aortii 

 and the above-named branches to the capsule of the liver. 



3. The Splenic Artery 



The splenic artery — the largest branch of the coeliac axis — arises from the left 

 side of the termination of that vessel below the gastric, and passes along the upper 

 border of the pancreas in a tortuous manner to the spleen. It at first lies behind 

 the ascending layer of the transverse meso-colon, but on nearing the spleen enters 



