Left gastric artery

In human anatomy, the left gastric artery arises from the celiac artery and runs along^[1] the superior portion of^{[citation needed]} the lesser curvature of the stomach before anastomosing with the right gastric artery (which runs right to left^{[citation needed]}). It also issues esophageal branches^[1] that supply lower esophagus and ascend through the esophageal hiatus to form anastomoses with the esophageal branches of thoracic part of aorta.^{[citation needed]}

Left gastric artery
The left gastric artery and other branches of the celiac artery (stomach in situ). Left gastric artery identified near lesser curvature.
Left gastric artery is at #2 -- the upper of the two arrows.
Details
Source	Celiac artery
Identifiers
Latin	arteria gastrica sinistra
TA98	A12.2.12.013
TA2	4212
FMA	14768
Anatomical terminology [edit on Wikidata]

Anatomy

Origin

The LGA usually arises from (the superior aspect of) the coeliac trunk - sometimes as a terminal branch of a trifurcation, and more rarely as a side branch of the splenic artery or of common hepatic artery. Sometimes it originates directly from aorta or from arteria phrenica inferior.^[2]

Course

From the crus of diaphragm, the LGA arches obliquely anterior-ward and to the left to reach the left curvature of the stomach just inferior to the gastric cardia (thus erecting the gastropancreatic (peritoneal) fold).^[2]

Fate

Upon reaching the cardia, the LGA splits into two terminal branches - a ventral one and a dorsal one - which anastomose with corresponding terminal branches of the right gastric artery, together providing arterial supply to the lesser curvature of the stomach.^[2]

Branches

Besides its terminal ventral branch and dorsal branch, the LGA yields multiple side branches: the left lateral hepatic artery, posterior esophageal artery, anterior esophagocardiotuberous artery, branches to lymph nodes, and omental branches.^[2]

Clinical significance

In terms of disease, the left gastric artery may be involved in peptic ulcer disease: if an ulcer erodes through the stomach mucosa into a branch of the artery, this can cause massive blood loss into the stomach, which may result in such symptoms as hematemesis or melaena.

Additional images

• 
  Blood supply to the stomach: left and right gastric artery, left and right gastro-omental artery and short gastric artery.^[3]
• 
  The celiac artery and its branches; the stomach has been raised and the peritoneum removed.
• 
  Arteries and veins around the pancreas and spleen.