Celiac Trunk

truncus coeliacus

The celiac trunk is the arterial supply to the foregut derivatives — the oesophagus below the diaphragm, stomach, duodenum to the major papilla, liver, gallbladder, spleen, and pancreas head. It is the shortest named artery in the body at less than 2 cm. Celiac trunk compression by the median arcuate ligament of the diaphragm produces celiac artery compression syndrome (median arcuate ligament syndrome) with postprandial abdominal pain and weight loss.

Region: Abdomen

Anatomical Data

Origin, Insertion & Supply

Origin	Abdominal aorta at T12 immediately below the aortic hiatus

Clinical Relevance

Clinical Notes

The celiac trunk and its branches form the surgical territory of the Whipple procedure (pancreaticoduodenectomy) for pancreatic head cancer. The common hepatic artery gives the gastroduodenal artery, which runs immediately posterior to the first part of the duodenum — explaining why duodenal ulcers penetrating posteriorly into the gastroduodenal artery cause catastrophic haemorrhage. Celiac axis embolisation is performed for acute variceal bleeding via TIPS procedures.

Pathology

Common Injuries & Conditions

Median Arcuate Ligament Syndrome

Celiac trunk extrinsic compression by the diaphragmatic arcuate ligament causing postprandial abdominal pain and weight loss, managed with surgical or laparoscopic ligament division with or without revascularisation.