Corpus: Splenic artery

The splenic artery is the largest branch of the celiac trunk and supplies arterial blood to the spleen, stomach, pancreas, and greater omentum.

The splenic artery runs in the retroperitoneal space along the upper border of the pancreas, extending to the left side of the body. It passes through the dorsal wall of the omental bursa and, within the splenorenal ligament, reaches the intraperitoneal spleen. At the spleen, the artery divides into several branches, known as splenic branches, which enter the splenic hilum to supply the spleen.

Along its course, the splenic artery gives off several branches to nearby organs, including:

• The left gastroepiploic artery, which supplies parts of the stomach and the greater omentum.
• The posterior gastric artery, which supplies the posterior wall of the stomach.
• Several short gastric arteries, that supply the fundus of the stomach.
• Several pancreatic branches, including the great pancreatic artery, the dorsal pancreatic artery, and the caudal pancreatic artery, which supply the pancreas.

The splenic artery is accompanied by the splenic vein, which runs caudally to the artery. Additionally, the splenic artery is surrounded by a vegetative nerve plexus known as the splenic plexus.