Arterial blood supply

The arterial blood supply of the stomach is provided by branches of the celiac trunk. Overall, the stomach is perfused by the following arteries:

Right gastric artery - originates from the common hepatic artery (branch of the celiac trunk); travels along the lesser curvature and supplies its lower aspect; it terminates by anastomosing with the left gastric artery;
Left gastric artery - arises directly from the celiac trunk; supplies the upper part of the lesser curvature;
Right and left gastroepiploic (gastro-omental) arteries - both arteries run along the greater curvature of the stomach and form an anastomose; the left gastro-omental artery is a branch of the splenic artery, while the right artery is a terminal branch of the gastroduodenal artery (branch of the common hepatic artery);
Short gastric arteries - branch off the splenic artery and supply the fundus.

Branches on the greater and lesser curvatures penetrate the submucosa and form abundant collaterals. These vessels found within the stomach walls are called the intramural vessels, and they are all interconnected, forming a vascular network. They remain filled even when one of the major gastric arteries has been ligated.

Venous drainage

The venous drainage of the stomach is provided by the portal venous system. The course and names of the veins draining the stomach correspond to the arteries:

Left and right gastric veins - direct tributaries of the hepatic portal vein;
Short gastric veins - drain into the splenic vein;
Left gastroepiploic (gastro-omental) vein - also drains into the splenic vein;
Right gastroepiploic (gastro-omental) vein - carries blood to the superior mesenteric vein.

The superior mesenteric vein merges with the splenic vein behind the head of the pancreas, and the blood drains into the hepatic portal vein.

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Blood supply of stomach

Arterial blood supply