Variation of Coeliac Artery in Humans

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By Wanda Marie Thibodeaux
eHow Contributing Writer

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You can't see it by pulling up your shirt, but the coeliac artery is in everyone's abdomen.

The body includes an extremely complex circulatory system of arteries and veins. These arteries and veins carry blood throughout the body and thereby ensure that every cell has nutrients and oxygen. The coeliac artery is one of the most important arteries within the circulatory system. Although it always comprises the same basic components, there is a great deal of variation within the coeliac artery structure.

What Is the Coeliac Artery?

The coeliac artery, also known as the coeliac trunk or coeliac axis, is a branch of the abdominal aorta that supplies blood to the abdominal organs (pancreas, spleen, liver, stomach and duodenum). It is located just below the diaphragm. The coeliac artery is composed of three major branches, including the splenic, left gastric and common hepatic arteries.

Variation Commonality

Variation of the coeliac artery is the rule rather than the exception. A study led by Thomas Nelson of the University of Illinois College of Medicine's Department of Surgery found that the "textbook" description of the coeliac artery appeared in only 24 percent of 50 cadavers that were examined. Radiopaedia.org, a website designed for radiologists and others in the medical field, reports that variation may be as high as 70 percent.

General Variation

A general variation rule is that any arterial branch of the coeliac artery can come off either the aorta or the super mesenteric artery. The coeliac artery itself can present other branches.

Branch Origin

Most variations of the coeliac artery involve where the branches originate. The rarest origin-branch combination is for the left gastric artery to stem from the super mesenteric artery. The splenic artery comes off the super mesenteric artery in less than 1 percent of people, while the common hepatic artery comes off the super mesenteric artery in about 2 percent of people. In terms of aortic origin, it is least common to see the splenic artery; this variation occurs in less than 1 percent of people. The common hepatic artery comes off the aorta in about 2 percent of people, while the left gastric artery comes off the aorta in as many as 3 percent of people.

Coeliac Extensions

Branches can extend off of the coeliac artery. The most common branches that come off the coeliac artery are the dorsal pancreatic, inferior phrenic, gastroduodenal and right hepatic arteries.

Importance

It is important for medical professionals to be aware of the variations of the coeliac artery in order to perform medical procedures safely. In particular, any abdominal surgery, especially surgeries involving the digestive system such as gastric bypass, require understanding of coeliac artery structure to avoid excessive bleeding and complications.