The celiac artery, also known as the celiac trunk, is the first major branch of the abdominal aorta and occurs at approximatley the level of the T12 vertebra.

It supplies oxygenated blood to the liver, stomach, abdominal oesophagus, spleen and the superior half of both the duodenum and the pancreas.

The celiac artery is the only major artery nourishing the abdominal digestive organs that does not have a similarly-named vein (i.e., the superior mesenteric artery and inferior mesenteric artery each have veins, namely the superior mesenteric vein and inferior mesenteric vein).

Blood from the celiac artery is drained by the splenic vein and a number of smaller vessels from the stomach and pancreas.

External links

• Image

Arteries | Abdomen

Truncus coeliacus | Tronc cœliaque | Tronco celíaco