Anatomy, Abdomen and Pelvis: Celiac Trunk

Excerpt

The celiac trunk, also termed the "celiac artery" or "celiac axis," constitutes a surgically significant splanchnic branch of the abdominal aorta, emerging anteriorly at approximately the T12 vertebral level. This short artery provides the primary blood supply to the foregut and foregut-derived organs in the superior abdominal cavity, including the stomach, liver, spleen, pancreas, and proximal duodenum. The vessel arises from the ventral segmental branches of the abdominal aorta during fetal development, reflecting the vascular pattern of the primitive foregut. Innervation of the celiac trunk originates from the celiac plexus, conveying both sympathetic and parasympathetic input to the foregut vasculature.

Variations in the celiac trunk’s branching pattern can complicate procedures such as liver transplantation, pancreatic resection, or endovascular interventions. Pathology of this vessel may result in pancreatic impairment, liver failure, or hemorrhage. Understanding the celiac trunk’s structural and functional characteristics assists clinicians in avoiding intraoperative injury and optimizing diagnostic imaging interpretation.