Left gastric artery

Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]

In human anatomy, the left gastric artery arises from the celiac artery, and runs along the superior portion of the lesser curvature of the stomach. Branches also supply the lower esophagus. The left gastric artery anastomoses with the right gastric artery, which supplies the inferior portion.

Pathology

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.

The celiac artery and its branches; the stomach has been raised and the peritoneum removed.
Diagram to show the lines along which the peritoneum leaves the wall of the abdomen to invest the viscera.