118 Anatomy of the Rabbit. 



(f) The nerves proceeding from the coeliac and superior me-, 

 senteric ganglia accompany the corresponding arteries, 

 forming the coeliac and superior mesenteric plexuses. 



(g) The (greater) splanchnic nerve (n. splanchnicus major) of 

 the left side passes backward from its origin in the thorax 

 (see p. 178), around the reduced left crus of the diaphragm 

 and crossing the aorta obliquely enters the superior mesen- 

 teric ganglion. 



(h) A portion of the pancreas (cf . p. 122) is seen in the peritoneum 

 after the branches of the splenic artery have been severed 

 (4, a). 

 Trace the plan of branching of the coeiiac artery, beginning at the 

 point of origin, and exposing the vessels in order. 



The coeliac artery (a. coeliaca) is a short trunk, its first main branch, 

 the splenic artery, being given off near its origin from the aorta. The 

 remaining portion of the vessel passes to the right in the direction of the 

 lesser curvature, and divides into two parts, the left' gastric and hepatic 

 arteries. Small vessels the inferior phrenic arteries (aa. phrenicae 

 inferiores) are given off from the anterior wall of the coeliac and are 

 distributed to the diaphragm. The distribution of the main branches is 

 as follows: 



(a) The splenic artery (a. lienalis) passes in the direction of the 

 spleen, giving off small branches (rr. pancreatici) to the pan- 

 creas _and one or more large vessels, the short gastric arteries 

 (aa. gastricae breves), to the left portion of the greater 

 curvature. Passing along the concave surface, or hilus, of 

 the spleen it gives off several splenic branches (rr. lienales) 

 to that organ, and also several more branches, comparable to 

 the short gastric arteries, to the greater curvature. Toward 

 the end of the spleen the artery passes into the greater 

 omentum, and at this point there is given off a large vessel, 

 the left gastroepiploic artery (a. gastroepiploica sinistra), 

 which passes to the right on the greater curvature and 

 anastomoses with the right gastroepiploic artery. 



The gastrosplenic ligament, together with its vessels, may be 

 divided, the spleen being allowed to fall backward toward the 

 intestine. 



(b) The left gastric artery (a. gastrica sinistra) forms a short trunk, 

 or more commonly a group of vessels, the branches of which 

 pass in a somewhat radiate manner toward the lesser curva- 

 ture of the stomach, reaching in this way both dorsal and 

 ventral surfaces. Two larger vessels appear on the ventral 

 surface respectively to the right and left of the cardia. That 

 on the left distributes small branches (rr. oesophagei) to the 

 cesphagus, while that on the right bears a small pyloric 

 branch which anastomoses across the lesser curvature with 

 the right gastric artery. 



The chief nerves of the coeliac plexus accompany the branches of 

 the artery to the stomach where they connect with the terminal 

 ramifications of the vagus (p. 119). 



