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Common hepatic artery

The common hepatic artery (CHA) is a major branch of the celiac trunk, arising alongside the left gastric and splenic arteries. It courses to the right, running along the superior border of the pancreas and toward the first part of the duodenum. At the level of the duodenum and porta hepatis, it divides into its terminal branches: the gastroduodenal artery and the hepatic artery proper.

The CHA is a crucial vessel for the liver, stomach, duodenum, and pancreas, providing oxygenated arterial blood to both hepatic and extrahepatic structures. Along its course, it gives off smaller branches that contribute to upper abdominal arterial networks.

Anatomical variations are common and clinically significant, especially in hepatic surgery, liver transplantation, and interventional radiology. The CHA may arise directly from the aorta, superior mesenteric artery (SMA), or left gastric artery in some cases.

Synonyms

  • CHA

  • Arteria hepatica communis

  • Hepatic artery of the celiac trunk

Function

  • Supplies oxygenated blood to the liver, stomach, duodenum, and pancreas

  • Provides arterial input for the biliary tree via downstream branches

  • Contributes to collateral circulation between the celiac trunk and SMA

  • Plays a critical role in surgical and interventional planning of hepatobiliary procedures

Branches

  • Gastroduodenal artery → supplies stomach, duodenum, and pancreas

  • Hepatic artery proper → continues to porta hepatis, dividing into right and left hepatic arteries

  • Small branches to adjacent stomach and pancreas may arise variably

MRI Appearance

T1-weighted images:

  • CHA appears as a signal void (black lumen) due to flowing blood, surrounded by intermediate signal pancreas and fat

T2-weighted images:

  • Vessel lumen appears as signal void; perivascular edema or inflammation may appear hyperintense

STIR:

  • Suppresses fat, highlighting the CHA within the hepatoduodenal ligament

  • Perivascular inflammation or tumor infiltration appears bright hyperintense

T1 Fat-Saturated (Pre-contrast):

  • Arterial lumen shows intermediate signal, standing out against suppressed mesenteric fat

T1 Fat-Saturated Post-Contrast (Gadolinium):

  • CHA enhances brightly and homogeneously

  • Allows evaluation of arterial patency, stenosis, aneurysm, or collateral formation

MRA (Magnetic Resonance Angiography):

  • Depicts CHA origin from the celiac trunk, its branches, and variants

  • Useful for pre-transplant mapping, tumor embolization planning, and vascular anomaly assessment

CT Appearance

CT Pre-Contrast:

  • CHA visible as a soft-tissue tubular structure along pancreatic superior border

  • Calcifications may be seen in atherosclerosis

CT Post-Contrast:

  • Enhances brightly, allowing delineation of its course and branches

  • Identifies thrombosis, aneurysm, or arterial invasion by tumors

CT Angiography (CTA):

  • Gold standard for non-invasive CHA evaluation

  • Demonstrates CHA origin, branches (GDA, right gastric, proper hepatic), and variations

  • 3D reconstructions are essential for surgical planning, liver transplant evaluation, and interventional radiology procedures

MRI image

common hepatic artery anantomy MRI CORONAL image -img-00000-00000

CT image

common hepatic artery anantomy CT axial image -img-00000-00000

MRI IMAGE

Common hepatic artery MRI CORONAL anatomy image -img-00000-00000