Splenic artery

Splenic artery
The visceral surface of the spleen.
Branches of the celiac artery. (Lienal artery is an old term for splenic artery, and is visible at center. The spleen is at center right. The stomach has been flipped out to reveal the splenic artery, so the greater curvature is at the top in this diagram.)
Details
Source	celiac artery
Branches	Pancreatic branches Pancreatica magna Left gastro-omental Short gastric Trabecular arteries Posterior Gastric
Vein	splenic vein
Supplies	spleen
Identifiers
Latin	arteria splenica, arteria lienalis
MeSH	A07.231.114.814
Dorlands /Elsevier	a_61/12156021
TA	A12.2.12.040
FMA	14773
Anatomical terminology []

In anatomy, the splenic artery (in the past called the lienal artery) is the blood vessel that supplies oxygenated blood to the spleen. It branches from the celiac artery, and follows a course superior to the pancreas.

The splenic artery gives off branches to the stomach and pancreas before reaching the spleen.

Note that the branches of the splenic artery do not reach all the way to the lower part of the greater curvature of the stomach. Instead, that region is supplied by the right gastroepiploic artery, a branch of the gastroduodenal artery. The two gastroepiploic arteries anastomose with each other at that point.

Along its course, it is accompanied by a similarly named vein, the splenic vein, which drains into the portal vein.

Splenic artery aneurysms are rare, but still the third most common abdominal aneurysm, after aneurysms of the abdominal aorta and iliac arteries. They may occur in pregnant women in the third trimester and rupture carries a maternal mortality of greater than 50% and a fetal mortality of 70% - 90%. Risk factors include smoking and hypertension. For the treatment of patients who represent a high surgical risk, percutaneous endovascular treatment may be considered.

3D-rendered computed tomography, showing splenic artery at upper right.