In anatomy

Anatomy

Anatomy is a branch of biology and medicine that is the consideration of the structure of living things. It is a general term that includes human anatomy, animal anatomy , and plant anatomy...

, the splenic artery (in the past called the lienal artery) is the blood vessel

Blood vessel

The blood vessels are the part of the circulatory system that transports blood throughout the body. There are three major types of blood vessels: the arteries, which carry the blood away from the heart; the capillaries, which enable the actual exchange of water and chemicals between the blood and...

 that supplies oxygenated blood

Blood

Blood is a specialized bodily fluid in animals that delivers necessary substances such as nutrients and oxygen to the cells and transports metabolic waste products away from those same cells....

 to the spleen

Spleen

The spleen is an organ found in virtually all vertebrate animals with important roles in regard to red blood cells and the immune system. In humans, it is located in the left upper quadrant of the abdomen. It removes old red blood cells and holds a reserve of blood in case of hemorrhagic shock...

. It branches from the celiac artery

Celiac artery

The celiac artery, also known as the celiac trunk, is the first major branch of the abdominal aorta. Branching from the aorta anterior to the upper border of L1 vertebra in humans, it is one of three anterior/ midline branches of the abdominal aorta The celiac (or coeliac) artery, also known as...

, and follows a course superior to the pancreas

Pancreas

The pancreas is a gland organ in the digestive and endocrine system of vertebrates. It is both an endocrine gland producing several important hormones, including insulin, glucagon, and somatostatin, as well as a digestive organ, secreting pancreatic juice containing digestive enzymes that assist...

.

Branches

The splenic artery gives off branches to the stomach

Stomach

The stomach is a muscular, hollow, dilated part of the alimentary canal which functions as an important organ of the digestive tract in some animals, including vertebrates, echinoderms, insects , and molluscs. It is involved in the second phase of digestion, following mastication .The stomach is...

 and pancreas before reaching the spleen.

Branch

Description >- | branch to the pancreas Pancreatic branches of splenic artery The pancreatic branches are numerous small vessels derived from the splenic artery as it runs behind the upper border of the pancreas, supplying its body and tail....

pancreas Pancreas The pancreas is a gland organ in the digestive and endocrine system of vertebrates. It is both an endocrine gland producing several important hormones, including insulin, glucagon, and somatostatin, as well as a digestive organ, secreting pancreatic juice containing digestive enzymes that assist... . The largest is the arteria pancreatica magna Arteria pancreatica magna In human anatomy, the arteria pancreatica magna, also great pancreatic artery and greater pancreatic artery, is the largest blood vessel that supplies oxygenated blood to the pancreas and arises from the splenic artery.-Pathology:... >- | short gastric Short gastric arteries The short gastric arteries consist of from five to seven small branches, which arise from the end of the splenic artery, and from its terminal divisions....

greater curvature of the stomach Greater curvature of the stomach The greater curvature of the stomach is directed mainly forward, and is four or five times as long as the lesser curvature.-Surface:Starting from the cardiac orifice at the incisura cardiaca, it forms an arch backward, upward, and to the left; the highest point of the convexity is on a level with... >- | left gastroepiploic

stomach Stomach The stomach is a muscular, hollow, dilated part of the alimentary canal which functions as an important organ of the digestive tract in some animals, including vertebrates, echinoderms, insects , and molluscs. It is involved in the second phase of digestion, following mastication .The stomach is... >- | posterior gastric

posterior of stomach Stomach The stomach is a muscular, hollow, dilated part of the alimentary canal which functions as an important organ of the digestive tract in some animals, including vertebrates, echinoderms, insects , and molluscs. It is involved in the second phase of digestion, following mastication .The stomach is... , gastric region superior to the splenic artery

Note that the branches of the splenic artery do not reach all the way to the lower part of the greater curvature of the stomach. Instead, that region is supplied by the right gastroepiploic artery, a branch of the gastroduodenal artery

Gastroduodenal artery

In anatomy, the gastroduodenal artery is a small blood vessel in the abdomen.It supplies blood directly to the pylorus and proximal part of the duodenum, and indirectly to the pancreatic head .It most commonly arises from the common hepatic artery of the celiac trunk, but there are...

. The two gastroepiploic arteries anastomose with each other at that point.

Vein

Along its course, it is accompanied by a similarly named vein, the splenic vein

Splenic vein

In anatomy, the splenic vein is the blood vessel that drains blood from the spleen.It joins with the superior mesenteric vein, to form the hepatic portal vein and follows a course superior to the pancreas, alongside of the similarly named artery, the splenic artery.It collects branches from the...

, which drains into the portal vein.

Pathology

Splenic artery aneurysm

Aneurysm

An aneurysm or aneurism is a localized, blood-filled balloon-like bulge in the wall of a blood vessel. Aneurysms can commonly occur in arteries at the base of the brain and an aortic aneurysm occurs in the main artery carrying blood from the left ventricle of the heart...

s are rare, but still the third most common abdominal aneurysm (after aneurysms of the abdominal aorta

Abdominal aorta

The abdominal aorta is the largest artery in the abdominal cavity. As part of the aorta, it is a direct continuation of the descending aorta .-Path:...

 and iliac arteries

Iliac artery

In human anatomy, iliac artery refers to several anatomical structures located in the pelvis:*Common iliac artery - forms at terminus of the aorta...

).

They may occur in pregnant women in the 3rd trimester and rupture carries a maternal mortality of greater than 50% and a fetal mortality of 70% - 90%. Risk factors include smoking and high blood pressure.

External links

• Ruptured splenic artery aneurysm - a case report from Saudi Arabia.
• Splenic artery - medterms.com - "The Spleen" - "Stomach, Spleen and Liver: The Splenic Artery"