Left gastric artery
Arteria gastrica sinistra
The smallest branch of the coeliac trunk, running up to the oesophageal end of the stomach and then along its lesser curvature.
At a glance
- English
- Left gastric artery
- Latin (TA2)
- Arteria gastrica sinistra
- System
- Artery
- Region
- Trunk
- Side
- Single, on the midline
About the left gastric artery
The left gastric artery is one of the three branches of the coeliac trunk, alongside the common hepatic and splenic arteries, and is usually the smallest of them. It begins just below the diaphragm, in front of the aorta at about the level of the twelfth thoracic vertebra.
From its origin it climbs upwards and to the left behind the peritoneum of the lesser sac, making a peritoneal fold as it goes, until it reaches the cardia, where the oesophagus joins the stomach. There it sends oesophageal branches up through the oesophageal hiatus to the lower oesophagus, where they join oesophageal branches of the thoracic aorta. It then turns sharply forwards and down, entering the lesser omentum and following the stomach's lesser curvature towards the pylorus.
Along this curve it gives branches to both the front and back surfaces of the stomach. It ends by joining the right gastric artery, which usually comes from the proper or common hepatic artery and runs in the opposite direction, so the two form an arterial arch along the lesser curvature. In some people the left gastric artery also gives an accessory left hepatic artery that runs in the lesser omentum to the liver.
The vessel matters in peptic ulcer disease: an ulcer high on the lesser curvature can erode into one of its branches and cause heavy bleeding into the stomach, seen as vomited blood or black, tarry stools. Its oesophageal branches are accompanied by the left gastric vein, which links the portal system with oesophageal veins; in portal hypertension this route can swell into oesophageal varices. The artery is also divided during removal of the stomach and is sometimes blocked through a catheter to control bleeding.
Course and supply
- Arises from
- Arises from the coeliac trunk, usually as its smallest branch, at about the twelfth thoracic vertebra.
- Ends in
- Ends along the stomach's lesser curvature by joining the right gastric artery; gives oesophageal branches near the cardia.
- Supplies
- Supplies the lesser curvature and adjoining front and back walls of the stomach and the lower oesophagus.
Anthromica
See the left gastric artery where it really sits, with every layer of the body around it.
- Every layer, one body. Peel from muscle to bone, nerve, vessel and organ, and turn it any way.
- English and Latin. Every structure named the way your exam names it.
- Quiz until it sticks. Short drills on the structures you keep missing.
Free to start. No card.
