Abdominal Aorta - Branches

Branches

The abdominal aorta supplies blood to much of the abdominal cavity. It begins at T12, and usually has the following branches:

Branch Vertebra Type Paired? A/P Description
inferior phrenic T12 Parietal yes post. originates just below the diaphragm, supplying it from below
celiac Upper L1 Visceral no ant. large anterior branch
superior mesenteric Lower L1 Visceral no ant. large anterior branch, arises just below celiac trunk
middle suprarenal L1 Visceral yes post. to adrenal gland
renal In between L1 and L2 Visceral yes post. large artery, each arising from the side of the aorta; supplies corresponding kidney; arises in the transpyloric plane
gonadal L2 Visceral yes ant. ovarian artery in females; testicular artery in males
lumbar L1-L4 Parietal yes post. four on each side that supply the abdominal wall and spinal cord
inferior mesenteric L3 Visceral no ant. large anterior branch
median sacral L4 Parietal no post. artery arising from the middle of the aorta at its lowest part
common iliac L4 Terminal yes post. branches (bifurcates) to supply blood to the lower limbs and the pelvis, ending the abdominal aorta

Note that the bifurcation (union) of the inferior vena cava is at L5 and therefore below that of the bifurcation of the aorta.

  1. inferior phrenic a.
  2. celiac a.
    1. left gastric a.
    2. splenic a.
      1. short gastric arteries (6)
      2. splenic arteries (6)
      3. left gastroepiploic a.
    3. common hepatic a.
      1. cystic a.
      2. right gastric a.
      3. gastroduodenal a.
        1. right gastroepiploic a.
        2. superior pancreaticoduodenal a.
      4. right hepatic a.
      5. left hepatic a.
  1. superior mesenteric a.
    1. jejunal and ileal arteries
    2. inferior pancreaticoduodenal a.
    3. middle colic a.
    4. right colic a.
    5. ileocolic a
      1. anterior cecal a.
      2. posterior cecal a. – appendicular a.
      3. ileal a.
      4. colic a.
  1. middle suprarenal a.
  2. renal a.
  3. testicular or ovarian a.
  1. four lumbar arteries
  1. inferior mesenteric a.
    1. left colic a.
    2. sigmoid arteries (2 or 3)
    3. superior rectal a.
  1. median sacral a.
  1. common iliac a.
    1. external iliac a.
    2. internal iliac a.

Read more about this topic:  Abdominal Aorta

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