Superior pancreaticoduodenal artery
The superior pancreaticoduodenal artery is an artery that supplies blood to the duodenum and pancreas.
| Superior pancreaticoduodenal artery | |
|---|---|
 The celiac artery and its branches; the stomach has been reflected superiorly and the peritoneum removed. (Superior pancreaticoduodenal labeled at center left.) | |
 Superior pancreaticoduodenal is at #11. | |
| Details | |
| Source | gastroduodenal artery |
| Vein | pancreaticoduodenal veins |
| Supplies | duodenum, pancreas |
| Identifiers | |
| Latin | arteria pancreaticoduodenalis superior |
| FMA | 70437 |
| Anatomical terminology | |
Structure
It is a branch of the gastroduodenal artery, which most commonly arises from the common hepatic artery of the celiac trunk, although there are numerous variations of the origin of the gastroduodenal artery.[1] The pancreaticoduodenal artery divides into two branches as it descends, an anterior and posterior branch. These branches then travel around the head of the pancreas and duodenum, eventually joining with the anterior and posterior branches of the inferior pancreaticoduodenal artery. The inferior pancreaticoduodenal artery is a branch of the superior mesenteric artery.[2] These arteries, together with the pancreatic branches of the splenic artery, form connections or anastomoses with one another, allowing blood to perfuse the pancreas and duodenum through multiple channels.
The artery supplies the anterior and posterior sides of the duodenum and head of pancreas, with the anterior branch supply the anterior surface and similarly for the posterior.
At 42 letters, the posterior superior pancreaticoduodenal artery is also the artery with the longest name in the human body.
Additional images
Anatomical dissection showing the origin of the posterior superior pancreaticoduodenal arteries
References
- "Anatomy Atlases: Illustrated Encyclopedia of Human Anatomic Variation: Opus II: Cardiovascular System: Variations in Origin of Gastroduadenal Artery". www.anatomyatlases.org. Retrieved 2018-12-21.
- Drake, Richard L.; Vogl, Wayne; Tibbitts, Adam W.M. Mitchell; illustrations by Richard; Richardson, Paul (2005). Gray's anatomy for students. Philadelphia: Elsevier/Churchill Livingstone. p. 297-299. ISBN 978-0-8089-2306-0.
External links
- Anatomy photo:38:03-0210 at the SUNY Downstate Medical Center - "Stomach, Spleen and Liver: Contents of the Hepatoduodenal Ligament"
- celiactrunk at The Anatomy Lesson by Wesley Norman (Georgetown University)
- pancreas at The Anatomy Lesson by Wesley Norman (Georgetown University) (pancreasvessels)
