Inferior phrenic arteries

Inferior phrenic arteries
The abdominal aorta and its branches (inferior phrenic arteries labeled at upper right)
Posterior abdominal wall, after removal of the peritoneum, showing kidneys, suprarenal capsules, and great vessels
Details
Source	Abdominal aorta
Branches	Superior suprarenal artery
Vein	Inferior phrenic vein
Supplies	Thoracic diaphragm
Identifiers
Latin	Arteriae phrenicae inferiores
Dorlands /Elsevier	a_61/12155488
TA	A12.2.12.002
FMA	14734
Anatomical terminology []

The inferior phrenic arteries are two small vessels, which supply the diaphragm but present much variety in their origin.

They may arise separately from the front of the aorta, immediately above the celiac artery, or by a common trunk, which may spring either from the aorta or from the celiac artery. Sometimes one is derived from the aorta, and the other from one of the renal arteries; they rarely arise as separate vessels from the aorta.

They diverge from one another across the crura of the diaphragm, and then run obliquely upward and lateralward upon its under surface.

Each vessel gives off superior suprarenal branches to the suprarenal gland of its own side. The spleen and the liver also receive a few twigs from the left and right vessels respectively.

This article incorporates text in the public domain from the 20th edition of Gray's Anatomy (1918)