The inferior phrenic artery is a
bilaterally paired artery of the abdominal cavity which represents the main source of arterial supply to the diaphragm. Each artery usually arises either from the coeliac trunk or the abdominal aorta, however, their origin is highly variable and the different sites of origin are different for the left artery and right artery. The
superior suprarenal artery is a branch of the inferior phrenic artery.
Structure
Origin
The inferior phrenic arteries vary considerably in their site of origin.
typically arise from either the
coeliac trunk or (the anterior aspect of
)
abdominal part of aorta (just superior to the coeliac trunk
); the two arteries arise either separately or as a common trunk.
The inferior phrenic arteries usually arise at the level corresponding to between
T12 and
L2 vertebrae
Each vertebra (: vertebrae) is an irregular bone with a complex structure composed of bone and some hyaline cartilage, that make up the vertebral column or spine, of vertebrates. The proportions of the vertebrae differ according to their spinal ...
.
The right inferior phrenic artery may less often arise from the
right renal artery,
left gastric artery
In human anatomy, the left gastric artery arises from the celiac artery and runs along the superior portion of the lesser curvature of the stomach before anastomosing with the right gastric artery (which runs right to left). It also issues es ...
,
hepatic artery proper.
The left inferior phrenic artery may less often arise from either
renal artery,
left gastric artery
In human anatomy, the left gastric artery arises from the celiac artery and runs along the superior portion of the lesser curvature of the stomach before anastomosing with the right gastric artery (which runs right to left). It also issues es ...
, or
hepatic artery proper.
Course and relations
The artery courses beneath the posterior portion of the
parietal peritoneum.
Each artery passes superoanteriorly and laterally to reach
and cross the
crura of diaphragm,
passing close to the medial border of the ipsilateral suprarenal gland.
Termination
Each artery splits into a medial branch and a lateral branch near the posterior border of the
central tendon of diaphragm.
Alternatively, it may terminate by trifurcating into an anterior, a middle, and a posterior branch.
Left inferior phrenic artery
The ''left phrenic'' passes posterior the
esophagus
The esophagus (American English), oesophagus (British English), or œsophagus (Œ, archaic spelling) (American and British English spelling differences#ae and oe, see spelling difference) all ; : ((o)e)(œ)sophagi or ((o)e)(œ)sophaguses), c ...
,
then anterior-ward upon the left side of the
esophageal hiatus,
past the left side of the
oesophageal hiatus.
Right inferior phrenic artery
The ''right phrenic'' passes posterior to the
inferior vena cava
The inferior vena cava is a large vein that carries the deoxygenated blood from the lower and middle body into the right atrium of the heart. It is formed by the joining of the right and the left common iliac veins, usually at the level of the ...
. It passes past the right side of the
caval opening.
Branches
* The ''medial branch'' curves anterior-ward, and anastomoses with its fellow of the opposite side, and with the
musculophrenic and
pericardiacophrenic arteries.
* The ''lateral branch'' passes toward the side of the thorax, and anastomoses with the
lower intercostal arteries, and with the
musculophrenic. The lateral branch of the right phrenic gives off a few vessels to the
inferior vena cava
The inferior vena cava is a large vein that carries the deoxygenated blood from the lower and middle body into the right atrium of the heart. It is formed by the joining of the right and the left common iliac veins, usually at the level of the ...
; and the left one, some branches to the
esophagus
The esophagus (American English), oesophagus (British English), or œsophagus (Œ, archaic spelling) (American and British English spelling differences#ae and oe, see spelling difference) all ; : ((o)e)(œ)sophagi or ((o)e)(œ)sophaguses), c ...
.
Distribution
The inferior phrenic arteries are the main source of arterial supply to the diaphragm.
Each of the smaller vessels give a
superior suprarenal artery to the ipsilateral
supradrenal gland. The
spleen
The spleen (, from Ancient Greek '' σπλήν'', splḗn) is an organ (biology), organ found in almost all vertebrates. Similar in structure to a large lymph node, it acts primarily as a blood filter.
The spleen plays important roles in reg ...
and the
liver
The liver is a major metabolic organ (anatomy), organ exclusively found in vertebrates, which performs many essential biological Function (biology), functions such as detoxification of the organism, and the Protein biosynthesis, synthesis of var ...
also receive a few twigs from the left and right vessels respectively.
References
External links
* - "Posterior Abdominal Wall: Branches of the Abdominal Aorta"
* (#23)
{{Authority control
Arteries of the abdomen