Left gastric artery

The left gastric artery (Latin: arteria gastrica sinistra) is the smallest branch of the celiac trunk. Its branches mainly supply the lesser curvature of the stomach, but some branches of the left gastric artery also reach the lower esophagus.

The artery ascends to the gastro-esophageal junction and gives off one to three esophageal branches that travel upward to reach the abdominal part of the esophagus. Some of these branches continue through the esophageal hiatus of the diaphragm and anastomose with the esophageal branches of the thoracic aorta.

The left gastric artery itself turns to the right and descends along the lesser curvature of the stomach located within the lesser omentum. The artery supplies anterior and posterior surfaces of the stomach in this area with its anterior and posterior branches (typically two terminal branches), respectively. The left gastric artery also anastomoses with the right gastric artery.