EXTENT

• Continuation of descending
thoracic aorta
• Opposite the lower border
of T12vertebra
• Terminates by dividing into
Rt and Lt common iliac
arteries.

MEASUREMENT
Length: 10-11cm
Breadth: 2cm
SURFACE MARKING
Represented by two
parallel lines 2cm
apart.
Beginning : 2.5cm
above the
transpyloric plane.
Termination: 1cm
below and same
distance to the left
side of the umbilicus.
RELATIONS
Anterior:
• Coeliac artery, coeliac plexus of
nerves, lesser sac.
• Origin of superior mesenteric
artery
• Body of pancreas
• Crossed by splenic vein & left renal
vein by the 3rd part of the
duodenum.
• Parietal peritoneum and crossed by
root of mesentery.
RELATIONS
POSTERIOR:
• L1-L4 vertebrae
• Intervertebral ligament
• Ant longitudinal ligament.
• Pairs of lumbar arteries &
median sacral artery.
• Left psoas major.
RELATIONS
RIGHT SIDE:
➢ IVC
➢ cisterna chyli
➢ thoracic duct
➢ rt crus of diaphragm
➢ rt coeliac ganglion.
LEFT SIDE:
➢ Lt crus of the diaphragm
➢ Lt coeliac ganglion
➢ Lt sympathetic trunk & inferior
mesenteric artery.
BRANCHES

VENTRAL COELIAC, SUPERIOR

MESENTERIC, INFERIOR
MESENTERIC ARTERIES.

LATERAL INFERIOR PHRENIC ,

MIDDLE SUPRARENAL,
RENAL, GONADAL
ARTERIES
DORSAL 4 PAIRS OF LUMBAR
ARTERIES, MEDIAN
SACRAL ARTERY

TERMINAL RT AND LT COMMON

ILIAC ARTERIES.
VENTRAL BRANCHES
• Coeliac trunk
• Superior mesenteric
artery
• Inferior mesenteric
artery
LEFT GASTRIC ARTERY

• Largest contribution to
the stomach.
• Ends by anastomosing
with the right gastric
artery.
Coeliac trunk

Superior
mesenteric
artery
Common hepatic artery
Branches
• Right gastric
• Gastro-duodenal
• Cystic artery.
COELIAC TRUNK

Artery of foregut.
Branches:
• Left gastric artery
• Splenic artery
• Common Hepatic artery
SPLENIC ARTERY
Largest branch of the coeliac
trunk.
Remarkably tortuous.
Branches:
➢ Pancreatic
➢ Short gastric
➢ Left gastro-epiploic
➢ Terminal branches
SUPERIOR MESENTERIC ARTERY
BRANCHES:
• Inferior pancreatico-
duodenal artery,
• Jejunal and ileal branches
• Right colic artery.
• Middle colic artery.
• Ileocolic artery.
INFERIOR MESENTERIC ARTERY
Artery of the hindgut
BRANCHES
• Superior left colic
• Inferior left colic
• Superior rectal
LATERAL BRANCHES
• INFERIOR PHRENIC
ARTERIES:
It gives off superior
suprarenal branch.

• MIDDLE SUPRARENAL
ARTERIES:
Supplies the corresponding
suprarenal gland.
RENAL ARTERIES
Right & left renal
arteries
BRANCHES:
✓ Inferior suprarenal
branches
✓ Branches to the
pelvis of the ureter
and renal fat.
GONADAL ARTERIES
These consists of
• TESTICULAR ARTERY in
males.
• OVARIAN ARTERY in
females.
DORSAL RELATIONS
Lumbar arteries:
4 pairs of arteries.

Median sacral artery:

It represents the
continuation of the
fused dorsal aortae.
TERMINAL BRANCHES

RIGHT COMMON ILIAC

LEFT COMMON ILIAC
 DEVELOPMENT
Lower part of the fused dorsal aortae
BRANCHES:
➢ Ventral splanchnic branches: supply the gut and its
derivatives.
➢ Lateral splanchnic branches: supply the derivatives of
intermediate mesoderm.
➢ Somatic intersegmental branches: supply the body
wall and neural tube.
 APPLIED ANATOMY
+ AORTIC ANEURYSM
+ CALCIFICATION OF AORTA
+ AORTOCAVAL COMPRESSION SYNDROME
 AORTIC ANEURYSM
Dilatation of the aorta below the level of renal
arteries.
AORTOCAVAL COMPRESSION SYNDROME
It is the compression of the abdominal aorta and
inferior venacava by the gravid uterus.
CALCIFICATION OF AORTA

Calcification of aorta is
always associated with
atheromatous
degeneration.
C T SCAN SHOWING CALCIFICATION
AORTA
Accessory renal artery