anatomy Anatomy () is the branch of biology concerned with the study of the structure of organisms and their parts. Anatomy is a branch of natural science that deals with the structural organization of living things. It is an old science, having i ...

, the gastroduodenal artery is a small

blood vessel The blood vessels are the components of the circulatory system that transport blood throughout the human body. These vessels transport blood cells, nutrients, and oxygen to the tissues of the body. They also take waste and carbon dioxide awa ...

in the

abdomen The abdomen (colloquially called the belly, tummy, midriff, tucky or stomach) is the part of the body between the thorax (chest) and pelvis, in humans and in other vertebrates. The abdomen is the front part of the abdominal segment of the to ...

. It supplies blood directly to the

pylorus The pylorus ( or ), or pyloric part, connects the stomach to the duodenum. The pylorus is considered as having two parts, the ''pyloric antrum'' (opening to the body of the stomach) and the ''pyloric canal'' (opening to the duodenum). The ''pylori ...

(distal part of the

stomach The stomach is a muscular, hollow organ in the gastrointestinal tract of humans and many other animals, including several invertebrates. The stomach has a dilated structure and functions as a vital organ in the digestive system. The stomach i ...

) and proximal part of the

duodenum The duodenum is the first section of the small intestine in most higher vertebrates, including mammals, reptiles, and birds. In fish, the divisions of the small intestine are not as clear, and the terms anterior intestine or proximal intestine m ...

. It also indirectly supplies the pancreatic head (via the anterior and posterior superior pancreaticoduodenal arteries).

Structure

The gastroduodenal artery most commonly arises from either the left hepatic artery or the right hepatic artery instead. It may also arise from the

common hepatic artery The common hepatic artery is a short blood vessel that supplies oxygenated blood to the liver, pylorus of the stomach, duodenum, pancreas, and gallbladder. It arises from the celiac artery and has the following branches: Additional images ...

of the coeliac trunk in a trifork arrangement with the two other arteries, but there are numerous variations of the origin.Bergman RA, Afifi AK, Miyauchi R. Variations in Origin of Gastroduodenal Artery. from Anatomy Atlases. (http://www.anatomyatlases.org/AnatomicVariants/Cardiovascular/Images0001/0017.shtml) It first gives rise to the

supraduodenal artery The supraduodenal artery is an artery which usually branches from Gastroduodenal artery. This artery supplies the superior portion of the duodenum. References External links * Arteries of the abdomen {{circulatory-stub ...

, followed by the posterior superior pancreaticoduodenal artery. It terminates in a bifurcation when it splits into the right gastroepiploic artery and the anterior superior pancreaticoduodenal artery ( superior pancreaticoduodenal artery). These branches form functional anastomoses with the anterior and posterior inferior pancreaticoduodenal arteries from the

superior mesenteric artery In human anatomy, the superior mesenteric artery (SMA) is an artery which arises from the anterior surface of the abdominal aorta, just inferior to the origin of the celiac trunk, and supplies blood to the intestine from the lower part of the du ...

. Note that the exact branching of vessels from the gastroduodenal artery is variable. Typically, the posterior and anterior superior pancreaticoduodenal arteries branch independently in that order, but can rarely come off a common trunk.

Function

It supplies blood directly to the

(distal part of the

) and proximal part of the

. It also indirectly supplies the pancreatic head (via the anterior and posterior superior pancreaticoduodenal arteries).

Clinical significance

Peptic ulcer

The gastroduodenal artery can be the source of a significant gastrointestinal bleed, which may arise as a complication of

peptic ulcer disease Peptic ulcer disease (PUD) is a break in the inner lining of the stomach, the first part of the small intestine, or sometimes the lower esophagus. An ulcer in the stomach is called a gastric ulcer, while one in the first part of the intestines ...

. Because of its close relationship to the posteromedial wall of the second part of the duodenum, deeply penetrating ulcers or tumours of the duodenum may cause torrential bleeding from the gastroduodenal ‘artery of haemorrhage'. It occurs because the profuse arterial network in the region ensures a high flow rate in the vessel.gray 40th, page 1127

Additional images

File:Slide16fff.JPG, Gastroduodenal artery

References

External links

* * - "Upper Gastrointestinal Bleeding: Surgical Perspective" * - "Stomach, Spleen and Liver: Contents of the

Hepatoduodenal ligament The hepatoduodenal ligament is the portion of the lesser omentum extending between the porta hepatis of the liver and the superior part of the duodenum. Running inside it are the following structures collectively known as the portal triad: * he ...

" * * {{Authority control Arteries of the abdomen Stomach