The celiac trunk (lat. Truncus coeliacus) is the most important artery that nourishes all the organs of the abdominal cavity, more precisely its upper floor. It moves away from the aorta at the level of the twelfth thoracic vertebra in the area of the aortic orifice of the diaphragm. This is quite short, about 2 cm, but rather thick artery. After its departure, the trunk is divided into three branches on the upper edge of the pancreas.
The first branch is the left gastric artery (lat.a. gastrica sinistra). This vessel goes to the stomach, its lesser curvature, nourishing it, and also gives branches to the abdominal part of the esophagus.
Further, the celiac trunk becomes the source of another - the common hepatic artery (lat.a. hepatica communis). It goes to the duodenum, where after the gastro-duodenal artery (lat.a. gastroduodenalis) recovers, it continues its course in the form of its own hepatic (lat.a. hepatica propria) and reaches the portal of the liver. This artery lies in the hepatoduodenal ligament, where its neighbors are the portal vein and, of course, the common bile duct. At the gate of the liver, the vessel is divided into two branches, respectively, of the lobes of the liver: right and left. From the right branch originates the cystic artery (lat.a. cystica), which goes to the gallbladder. In addition, from the common or own artery of the liver, the right gastric (Latin a. Gastrica dextra) begins, which holds the path to the stomach, or rather its lesser curvature, connecting there with the same vessel on the left side. The previously mentioned gastro-duodenal artery gives rise to two branches: the upper pancreas-duodenum (lat.a. pancreatoduodenalis superior) and the right gastrointestinal artery (lat.a. gastroepiploica dextra). The first of them goes to the stomach, its great curvature, and gives branches to it and the omentum. The second often represents a group of trunks that branch in the pancreas and, in addition, in the duodenum.
And finally, the third branch is the splenic artery (lat.a. lienalis). She goes to the spleen, giving small branches to the pancreas along the way. Approaching the gates of the spleen, it is divided into 5-8 small arteries that branch in the organ. Before separation, the left gastro-omental artery (lat.a. gastroepiploica sinistra) is separated from it, which anastomoses with the same vessel on the right side on a large curvature. In addition, short gastric arteries (lat. Aa. Gastricae breves) go to the stomach from the splenic artery.
The celiac trunk, thanks to the numerous anastomoses of its branches, provides an adequate and complete blood supply to the organs of the upper floor. Unfortunately, this important vessel is not safe from problems. One of them is stenosis. Celiac trunk, despite its thickness, under the influence of some factors can narrow the lumen, which is the cause of health problems. The narrowing can occur as a result of the deposition of atherosclerotic plaques on the inner wall of the trunk. This pathology is manifested by vague abdominal pain, bloating and other characteristic phenomena. Diagnosed with angiography. Not only this can cause stenosis of the celiac trunk. There is a disease called Dunbar syndrome. Due to a congenital anomaly of one of the ligaments of the diaphragm, this important aortic branch is compressed. With angiography, stenosis is noted at the site of compression and expansion immediately after it. Celiac trunk, becoming a victim of this anomaly, gives the following clinical picture. Patients note aching abdominal pain, nausea, flatulence and vomiting, and sometimes diarrhea occurs. In addition, the symptoms inherent in acute pancreatitis are possible: severe pain, vomiting, fever.
Stenosis of this artery is very dangerous because it nourishes important organs: the liver, spleen, stomach, etc. The lack of blood supply to them can cause serious and irreversible consequences, even death. Therefore, each person should pay attention to inexplicable abdominal pain.