[Durgical](https://durgical.com/en/) › [DurgiPedia](https://durgical.com/en/durgipedia/) › [Anatomy](https://durgical.com/en/anatomy/) › [Abdomen](https://durgical.com/en/anatomy/region/abdomen/) › Celiac trunk [Cardiovascular system](https://durgical.com/en/anatomy/system/cardiovascular-system/) · [Abdomen](https://durgical.com/en/anatomy/region/abdomen/) # Celiac trunk The celiac trunk is a short, wide artery from the aorta that splits into three to feed the stomach, liver, [spleen](https://durgical.com/en/anatomy/spleen/) and part of the pancreas. [See in 3D →](https://durgical.app/?from=durgipedia&lang=en#region=abdomen&select=celiac_trunk&side=r) Opens in the Durgical app, no sign-up needed. ## What it is A short, wide branch from the front of the aorta just below the diaphragm (at T12), splitting into the left gastric, common hepatic and splenic arteries. ## What it does Supplies the stomach, liver, [gallbladder](https://durgical.com/en/anatomy/gallbladder/), spleen and part of the pancreas and [duodenum](https://durgical.com/en/anatomy/duodenum/). ## Key points - Celiac trunk at T12 (foregut), superior mesenteric artery at L1 (midgut), [inferior mesenteric artery](https://durgical.com/en/anatomy/inferior-mesenteric-artery/) at L3 (hindgut); pain from each gut is felt in the epigastrium, around the umbilicus and above the pubis - Classic three-way split (tripod of Haller) into the left gastric, common hepatic and splenic arteries; the textbook pattern is the most common one but not universal - The median arcuate ligament of the diaphragm crosses just above it; a low-lying ligament can squeeze the trunk, more so in expiration - The pancreaticoduodenal arcades link it to the superior mesenteric artery, so a slow narrowing of one of the two is usually silent ## Key facts **Origin** Anterior [abdominal aorta](https://durgical.com/en/anatomy/abdominal-aorta/) at T12, just below the aortic hiatus **Branches** Left gastric, splenic and common hepatic arteries **Supplies** Foregut: lower [esophagus](https://durgical.com/en/anatomy/esophagus-abdominal-part/) to duodenum at major papilla; liver, gallbladder, spleen, part of pancreas ## Relations **Course** Leaves the front of the aorta as the aorta emerges from the aortic hiatus, runs forward for only a centimetre or two above the upper border of the [pancreas](https://durgical.com/en/anatomy/pancreas/) and divides behind the lesser sac **Above** Median arcuate ligament and the crura of the [diaphragm](https://durgical.com/en/anatomy/diaphragm/); the caudate lobe of the [liver](https://durgical.com/en/anatomy/liver/) lies above and to the right **Below** Upper border of the pancreas and the [splenic vein](https://durgical.com/en/anatomy/splenic-vein/); the [superior mesenteric artery](https://durgical.com/en/anatomy/superior-mesenteric-artery/) leaves the aorta just below **In front** Lesser sac (omental bursa) and the [lesser omentum](https://durgical.com/en/anatomy/lesser-omentum/), with the [stomach](https://durgical.com/en/anatomy/stomach/) in front of them **Lateral** The celiac ganglia and [celiac plexus](https://durgical.com/en/anatomy/coeliac-plexus-and-ganglia/) surround it on both sides; the right and left crura of the diaphragm lie lateral and behind ## How to find it Too deep to feel: it lies in the epigastrium a little above the transpyloric plane. On a transverse ultrasound of the upper [abdomen](https://durgical.com/en/anatomy/region/abdomen/), the common hepatic and splenic arteries branching from it look like a bird with spread wings (the seagull sign). ## On imaging CT angiography with sagittal reformats shows the celiac trunk and superior mesenteric artery leaving the aorta one above the other; a hooked, narrowed celiac origin that worsens in expiration suggests median arcuate ligament compression. Doppler ultrasound measures flow velocity at its origin. ## Common problems - Abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA): a silent widening, more common in older men who smoke; rupture is life-threatening. ## How it is diagnosed Ultrasound screening; CT. ## Treatment - Monitoring of small aneurysms; repair with a stent-graft through the groin arteries or open surgery for large ones. ## Clinical notes - Median arcuate ligament syndrome (Dunbar syndrome): pain after meals, weight loss and an epigastric bruit from compression of the trunk; a diagnosis of exclusion, treated by dividing the ligament - Celiac plexus block or neurolysis, guided by CT or endoscopic ultrasound at the level of the trunk, is used for the pain of pancreatic cancer - When the celiac origin is narrowed, the liver and stomach can fill backwards from the superior mesenteric artery through the [gastroduodenal artery](https://durgical.com/en/anatomy/gastroduodenal-artery/); this flow is checked before the gastroduodenal artery is tied in a pancreatoduodenectomy ## Anatomical variants - Two branches instead of three, for example a hepatosplenic trunk with the [left gastric artery](https://durgical.com/en/anatomy/left-gastric-artery/) arising separately - Celiacomesenteric trunk: the celiac trunk and superior mesenteric artery share a single origin (rare); one stenosis there can threaten both territories - The [inferior phrenic arteries](https://durgical.com/en/anatomy/inferior-phrenic-artery/) may arise from it instead of from the aorta ## Development It comes from one of the ventral (vitelline) branches of the dorsal aorta; persistence of the longitudinal channel that briefly links these branches explains the celiacomesenteric trunk. ## Memory aid Its three branches: Left Hand Side (Left gastric, Hepatic, Splenic). ## Related conditions - [Chronic mesenteric ischemia](https://durgical.com/en/conditions/chronic-mesenteric-ischemia/) - [Pancreatic cancer](https://durgical.com/en/conditions/pancreatic-cancer/) - [Acute mesenteric ischaemia](https://durgical.com/en/conditions/acute-mesenteric-ischaemia/) ## Test yourself Think of the answer, then tap the question to see it. ## At what level does the celiac trunk arise, and what are its three branches? From the front of the aorta at T12, just below the aortic hiatus; it divides into the left gastric, common hepatic and splenic arteries. ## Which territory does the celiac trunk supply, and where is pain from it felt? The foregut: lower esophagus to the duodenum at the major papilla, plus liver, gallbladder, spleen and part of the pancreas; foregut pain is felt in the epigastrium. ## What is median arcuate ligament syndrome? Compression of the celiac trunk by a low median arcuate ligament: pain after meals, weight loss and an epigastric bruit; a diagnosis of exclusion, treated by dividing the ligament. ## Why is slow narrowing of the celiac trunk usually silent? The pancreaticoduodenal arcades link it to the superior mesenteric artery, so the liver and stomach can fill from that side. ## What is the seagull sign on ultrasound? On a transverse view of the upper abdomen, the common hepatic and splenic arteries branching from the celiac trunk look like a bird with spread wings. [Add to my cards (5)](https://durgical.app/estudiar/?add=/en/anatomy/celiac-trunk/) Educational information, not medical advice. For any symptom, see a health professional. ## Its names **Official Latin (TA2)** truncus coeliacus TA2 4211 **Official Spanish (DeCS)** Arteria celíaca DeCS D002445 **English (TA2)** Celiac trunk **Also called** celiac artery · arteria coelica · arteria celiaca · Haller's tripus ## Related - [Abdominal aorta](https://durgical.com/en/anatomy/abdominal-aorta/) - [Celiac plexus](https://durgical.com/en/anatomy/coeliac-plexus-and-ganglia/) - [Stomach](https://durgical.com/en/anatomy/stomach/) - [Liver](https://durgical.com/en/anatomy/liver/) - [Spleen](https://durgical.com/en/anatomy/spleen/) - [Pancreas](https://durgical.com/en/anatomy/pancreas/) - [Duodenum](https://durgical.com/en/anatomy/duodenum/) Sources: Terminologia Anatomica (TA2); [DeCS](https://decs.bvsalud.org/es/ths/resource/?id=2480); [Anatomy, Abdomen and Pelvis: Celiac Trunk](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK459241/). ## **Spotted a mistake?** We are always improving for the community. Tell us what is wrong and our team will review it. Report a mistake Representative model, for educational purposes only. --- Source: https://durgical.com/en/anatomy/celiac-trunk/ License: CC BY 4.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/). Cite as: DurgiPedia (durgical.com), https://durgical.com/en/anatomy/celiac-trunk/