Left gastric artery
Sub-branch · Lesser curvature Oesophageal branches
Smallest branch of the coeliac trunk. Runs up and to the left to the cardia, sends oesophageal branches through the hiatus, then turns along the lesser curvature within the lesser omentum to anastomose with the right gastric artery from the hepatic system.
Traced from the start
- Abdominal aorta
- Coeliac trunk
- Left gastric artery
Detail
- Supplies
- Lower oesophagus, cardia and lesser curvature of the stomach
- Anastomoses
- Right gastric artery along the lesser curve; oesophageal arteries of the thoracic aorta
- Variant
- Gives an accessory or replaced left hepatic artery in roughly 10–20%, at risk during gastrectomy
When it goes wrong
Lesser-curve gastric ulcer eroding posteriorly
Brisk haematemesis from the left gastric artery; the artery is ligated at its origin in gastrectomy
Portal hypertension raising pressure in the left gastric (coronary) vein that accompanies the artery
Oesophageal varices at the gastro-oesophageal junction, the portosystemic anastomosis with the azygos system
Practise this structure
1 question in the bank tagged Mesenteric Arterial Supply.