BRANCHES OF THE ABDOMINAL AORTA 715 
and pyloric part of the abomasum. The ventral branch (A. gastro-epiploica 
sinistra) runs forward and downward over the anterior extremity of the omasum, 
passes backward in the great omentum close to the ventral curvature of the aboma- 
sum, and anastomoses with the right gastro-epiploic. A considerable branch from it 
curves around in front of the neck of the omasum to communicate with the reticular 
artery. Another branch runs back across the left side of the omaso-abomasal 
junction, and a third goes to the lesser curvature of the omasum. 
5. The splenic artery usually arises by a common trunk with the right ruminal 
Fie. 599.—PLan OF BRANCHES OF ANTERIOR MESENTERIC ARTERY OF OX. 
1, Anterior mesenteric artery; 2, middle colic artery; 3, ileo-cxco-colic artery; 4, ramus collateralis; 5, continua- 
tion of anterior mesenteric artery, giving off branches to small intestine; 6, c#cal artery; 7, colic branch of posterior 
mesenteric artery; A, termination of duodenum. 
artery. It passes forward and to the left across the dorsal curvature of the rumen 
and enters the hilus of the spleen. 
The anterior mesenteric artery arises from the aorta just behind the cceliac, 
and has about the same caliber as the latter. It descends, inclining a little to 
the right, and crosses the colon as the latter emerges from the spiral to run backward. 
After detaching twigs to the pancreas it gives off in succession the following branches: 
1. The middle colic artery (A. colica media) passes to the colon as it emerges 
from the spiral arrangement. This artery is comparable to the middle colic or 
artery of the small colon of the horse; it runs backward along the terminal part of 
the colon, which it supplies. 
