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