Spermatic or Ovarian arteries

The Spermatic or Ovarian arteries arise just below the renal arteries. The spermatic arteries run downward and outwards through the inguinal canal to supply the testicles. The ovarian arteries are much shorter, and pass straight down into the pelvis and supply the ovaries.

The Unpaired Visceral Branches

The Coeliac Axis arises from the front of the aorta just after it has entered the abdomen. It is very short (about half an inch), and divides almost at once into three branches:

1. Gastric.

2. Splenic.

3. Hepatic.

The Gastric artery runs upwards and to the left to the oesophagus, and passes along the smaller curvature of the stomach between the layers of the small omentum to join the pyloric branch of the hepatic artery.

The Splenic artery runs behind the stomach along the upper border of the pancreas. It passes between the two layers of the lieno-renal ligament and enters the hilum of the spleen.

The Hepatic artery runs along the head of the pancreas to the first part of the duodenum. It then passes upwards to the transverse fissure of the liver and divides into right and left branches. It gives off two branches-the pyloric, which goes to the pylorus and supplies both sides of the stomach; the gastro-duodenal, whose terminal branches supply the larger curvature of the stomach, the head of the pancreas, and the duodenum.

1. Superior Mesenteric Artery

2. Middle Colic

3. Inferior Mesenteric

4. Left Colic

5. Arteriae Sigmoideae

6. Superior Hemorrhoidal

7. Transverse Colon

8. Descending Colon

9. Iliac Colon 10. Pelvic Colon

The Superior Mesenteric artery arises half an inch below the coeliac and opposite the first lumbar vertebra. It crosses obliquely downwards over the head of the pancreas to the root of the mesentery. It gives off numerous branches which supply the duodenum, small intestine, and ascending and transverse colons.

Fig. 58. - The Inferior Mesenteric Artery and its Branches (after Tiedemann).

The Inferior Mesenteric artery arises a short distance above the bifurcation of the aorta. It passes downwards over the left psoas and becomes the superior haemorrhoidal. It supplies the descending colon and the rectum.