The Palmar Arch and its Branches in the Palm of the Hand.
The interosseous muscles have been removed, except those of the third and fourth digits. 1, M. abductor digiti quinti; 2, 3, Mm. interossei of third and fourth digits; 4, M. adductor pollicis; 5, M. flexor brevis pollicis. a, termination of radial artery; b, palmar arch; c, A. princeps pollicis et indicis; d, Aa. interosseæ; e, muscular branches of the same; f, A. ulnaris; g, deep palmar branch of ulnar nerve.
Branches of the cœliac artery:
1. A. hepatica (d).—The hepatic artery passes cranioventrad, pierces the descending limb of the great omentum and passes craniad to the liver, lying, together with the portal vein and common bile-duct, in the ventral boundary of the foramen epiploicum (foramen of Winslow) and contained, together with the last-named vessels, in a fibrous sheath called the capsule of Glisson. Just before entering the sheath it gives off the gastroduodenalis (g). At its termination the hepatic artery divides, sending branches to the lobes of the liver and a cystic artery to the gall-bladder.
[Fig. 125].—The Cœliac Artery and its Branches.
![[Fig. 125]](#3418956513767812439_illo302lg.jpg.id-5238269364511881290.wrap-0.html.html){kind=link}
a, abdominal aorta; b, A. cœliaca; c, A. mesenterica superior (cut); d, A. hepatica (cut); e, A. gastrica sinistra; f, A. lienalis; g, A. gastroduodenalis (cut from A. hepatica); h, A. pylorica; i, A. gastroepiploica dextra; j, A. pancreaticoduodenalis superior; k, A. pancreaticoduodenalis inferior (cut from inferior mesenteric); l, A. ventriculi dorsalis. 1, spleen; 2, stomach; 3, duodenum; 4, pancreas.
a. A. gastroduodenalis (g).—This arises from the hepatic near the pylorus and passes caudad, dividing one or two centimeters from its origin into three branches, A. pylorica (h), A. pancreaticoduodenalis superior (j), and A. gastroepiploica dextra (i). The pylorica (h) (which may arise directly from the hepatic) passes to the pylorus, thence along the lesser curvature of the stomach, dividing into numerous branches and anastomosing with the gastrica sinistra. The pancreaticoduodenalis superior (j) passes to the duodenum, supplying it and the duodenal part of the pancreas and anastomosing with the pancreaticoduodenalis inferior (k). The gastroepiploica dextra (i) passes along the greater curvature of the stomach from the pyloric end and supplies the walls of the stomach, sending branches also to the ascending limb of the great omentum. These branches anastomose with the terminal branches of the splenic artery.
2. A. gastrica sinistra (e).—This arises from the cœliac artery and passes to the lesser curvature of the stomach, extending along this to the right. It gives off many branches to the walls of the stomach, and anastomoses with A. pylorica.
A. ventriculi dorsalis (l).—One or two small arteries which arise either from the gastrica sinistra or the cœliac artery, and pass toward the dorsal part of the greater curvature of the stomach near its cardiac end.