Fort Towson

In human anatomy, the left gastric artery arises from the celiac artery and runs along^[1] the superior portion of^{[citation needed]} the lesser curvature of the stomach before anastomosing with the right gastric artery (which runs right to left^{[citation needed]}). It also issues esophageal branches^[1] that supply lower esophagus and ascend through the esophageal hiatus to form anastomoses with the esophageal branches of thoracic part of aorta.^{[citation needed]}

Clinical significance

In terms of disease, the left gastric artery may be involved in peptic ulcer disease: if an ulcer erodes through the stomach mucosa into a branch of the artery, this can cause massive blood loss into the stomach, which may result in such symptoms as hematemesis or melaena.

Additional images

• 
  Blood supply to the stomach: left and right gastric artery, left and right gastro-omental artery and short gastric artery.^[2]
• 
  The celiac artery and its branches; the stomach has been raised and the peritoneum removed.
• 
  Arteries and veins around the pancreas and spleen.

References

External links

• Anatomy photo:38:01-0103 at the SUNY Downstate Medical Center - "Stomach, Spleen and Liver: The Right and Left Gastric Artery"
• Cross section image: pembody/body8a—Plastination Laboratory at the Medical University of Vienna
• celiactrunk at The Anatomy Lesson by Wesley Norman (Georgetown University)
• Branching at uhrad.com