Gastroduodenal artery

At a glance

English

Gastroduodenal artery

Latin (TA2)

Arteria gastroduodenalis

System

Artery

Region

Trunk

Side

Single, on the midline

About the gastroduodenal artery

The gastroduodenal artery is a short but important vessel of the upper abdomen. In the usual pattern it is one of the two terminal branches of the common hepatic artery, which itself comes from the coeliac trunk; the other terminal branch continues as the proper hepatic artery. The level and pattern of this split vary a good deal, and occasionally the vessel springs from a hepatic artery further along or from a three-way division.

From its origin it descends behind the first part of the duodenum, lying between the duodenum and the neck of the pancreas, with the common bile duct to its right. Early on it gives a small supraduodenal twig to the upper duodenum and then the posterior superior pancreaticoduodenal artery. At the lower border of the first part of the duodenum it ends by dividing into the right gastro-omental (gastroepiploic) artery, which runs to the left along the greater curvature of the stomach, and a pancreaticoduodenal branch, the anterior superior one.

The two superior pancreaticoduodenal arteries curve round the head of the pancreas in the groove beside the duodenal loop. There they meet the anterior and posterior branches of the inferior pancreaticoduodenal artery from the superior mesenteric artery, so this area forms a link between the territories of the coeliac trunk and the superior mesenteric artery. Its direct field is the pylorus and the first part of the duodenum; through these branches it also reaches the pancreatic head and the rest of the upper duodenum.

Clinically it is best known as a source of severe bleeding. A peptic ulcer on the back wall of the first part of the duodenum can erode into it, and because the surrounding arterial network keeps flow high, the bleeding may be brisk and life-threatening. Endoscopic, radiological or surgical control of the vessel is then needed.

Course and supply

Arises from

Usually one of the two terminal branches of the common hepatic artery from the coeliac trunk; its origin is variable.

Ends in

Ends below the first part of the duodenum by splitting in two, into the anterior superior pancreaticoduodenal and right gastro-omental arteries; earlier branches are the supraduodenal and posterior superior pancreaticoduodenal arteries.

Supplies

Supplies the pylorus and first part of the duodenum directly, and the head of the pancreas, upper duodenum and greater curvature of the stomach through its branches.