Inferior phrenic artery

At a glance

English

Inferior phrenic artery

Latin (TA2)

Arteria phrenica inferior

System

Artery

Region

Trunk

Side

Single, on the midline

About the inferior phrenic artery

The inferior phrenic arteries are a pair of small vessels for the abdominal face of the diaphragm. Their origin is notably variable. Most often they arise between the twelfth thoracic and second lumbar levels from the front of the abdominal aorta just above the coeliac trunk, either one by one or from a shared stem. That stem may itself leave either the aorta or the coeliac trunk, and sometimes one artery springs from the aorta while its partner comes from a renal artery.

From their origin the two vessels spread apart across the diaphragmatic crura and then climb obliquely upwards and outwards over the under surface of the diaphragm. The left artery passes behind the oesophagus and runs forwards along the left margin of the oesophageal opening. The right one runs behind the inferior vena cava, then along the right margin of the caval opening.

Near the back of the central tendon each artery divides. Its medial branch turns forwards and joins its partner from the other side and the musculophrenic and pericardiacophrenic arteries. Its lateral branch heads towards the side wall of the chest and links with the lower intercostal and musculophrenic arteries. The right lateral branch sends small twigs to the vena cava, while the left sends twigs to the oesophagus.

Besides the diaphragm, each artery sends several superior suprarenal arteries to the suprarenal gland on the same side, and a few twigs reach the liver on the right and the spleen on the left. Because they lie close to the liver, they are a common source of extra blood supply to liver tumours, which matters when tumours are treated through the arteries.

Course and supply

Arises from

From the abdominal aorta just above the coeliac trunk, or from the coeliac trunk or a renal artery; separately or by a common stem.

Ends in

Each divides near the central tendon into medial and lateral branches that join the opposite artery, the musculophrenic, pericardiacophrenic and lower intercostal arteries.

Supplies

Supplies the under surface of the diaphragm and, through superior suprarenal branches, the suprarenal glands; small twigs reach the oesophagus, inferior vena cava, liver and spleen.