• Pancreatic arteries: Several small perforating branches. The largest of them, usually the first perforator is called either the "middle pancreatic artery", the "great pancreatic artery", or the "arteria pancratica magna"
• Left gastroepiploic artery: The largest of the splenic artery branches, this artery forms part of the greater curvature vascular arcade and provides blood supply to the left side of the stomach and part of the greater omentum
• Short gastric arteries: These are several short branches that course within the gastrosplenic ligament the connects the spleen to the greater curvature and fundus of the stomach. Take down of these branches is critical in certain procedures for esophageal hiatus hernia
• Splenic branches: The terminal branches of the splenic artery supply the spleen. It usually divides into a superior and an inferior branch, each one giving up to four branches that enter through the hilum of the spleen
Although rare, the splenic artery can be the site for an aneurysm. It is the third most common abominal aneurysm, after abdominal aorta and iliac artery aneurysms. They are being diagnosed more frequently now as incidental findings in cross-sectional imaging.
Sources: 1. "Tratado de Anatomia Humana" Testut et Latarjet 8 Ed. 1931 Salvat Editores, Spain 2. "Tortuosity of the Human Splenic Artery" Sylvester, PA, Stewart R, Ellis, H. Clin Anat (1996):8:214-218 3. "Splenic artery aneurysms"Trastek VF, et al. Surgery (1982) 91:694-699 9. "Splenic Artery Aneurysms and Pseudoaneurysms: Clinical Distinctions and CT Appearances" Agrawal, GA. Johnson, PT. Fishman EK. Am J Roentg (2007) 188: 4; 992-999
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