Topics

Topic

design image
Proper hepatic artery

The proper hepatic artery (PHA) is a continuation of the common hepatic artery, which arises from the celiac trunk. After giving rise to the gastroduodenal artery, the common hepatic artery continues as the proper hepatic artery. It ascends within the hepatoduodenal ligament of the lesser omentum, traveling anterior to the portal vein and medial to the common bile duct as part of the portal triad.

The PHA courses superiorly toward the porta hepatis, where it typically bifurcates into the right hepatic artery (RHA) and left hepatic artery (LHA). These branches provide the main arterial supply to the liver parenchyma and biliary tree. The PHA also frequently gives off the cystic artery (via the RHA) to the gallbladder.

The PHA is clinically significant in liver transplantation, hepatic resection, cholecystectomy, and interventional procedures, and is subject to numerous anatomical variations, such as arising from the superior mesenteric artery or left gastric artery.

Synonyms

  • Arteria hepatica propria

  • PHA

  • Terminal branch of common hepatic artery

Function

  • Supplies oxygenated blood to the liver (20–30% of hepatic blood flow; remainder via portal vein)

  • Provides arterial blood to the biliary system, including intrahepatic ducts and gallbladder (via cystic artery)

  • Ensures adequate perfusion for liver metabolism and detoxification

  • Maintains hepatic viability in surgical and transplant settings

Branches

  • Right hepatic artery (RHA): supplies right lobe (segments V–VIII), usually gives cystic artery

  • Left hepatic artery (LHA): supplies left lobe (segments II–IV)

  • Occasionally gives small accessory branches to caudate lobe or bile ducts

MRI Appearance

T1-weighted images:

  • Lumen appears as a signal void (black) due to arterial flow

  • Surrounded by hypointense vessel wall; adjacent fat and liver parenchyma aid delineation

T2-weighted images:

  • Blood flow remains a signal void

  • Wall abnormalities (aneurysm, thrombus, tumor invasion) may appear as altered signal intensities

STIR (Short Tau Inversion Recovery):

  • Fat suppression enhances visualization against liver tissue

  • Inflammation, edema, or perivascular pathology appear hyperintense

  • Useful for detecting vascular or periportal disease

T1 Post-Contrast (Gadolinium-enhanced):

  • Lumen enhances brightly and homogeneously

  • Clearly demonstrates course, bifurcation, stenosis, aneurysm, dissection, or collateral circulation

  • Essential for intrahepatic vascular mapping

MRA (Magnetic Resonance Angiography):

  • Contrast-enhanced MRA delineates the origin, course, branching, and variations of the PHA

  • Useful for preoperative transplant planning, embolization, and oncologic intervention

  • 3D reconstructions demonstrate hepatic arterial tree anatomy and any variants (e.g., replaced or accessory hepatic arteries)

CT Appearance

Non-contrast CT:

  • Appears as a tubular soft tissue density within the hepatoduodenal ligament

  • May show wall calcifications in atherosclerotic disease

CT Angiography (CTA):

  • Gold standard for visualizing the origin, course, bifurcation, and intrahepatic branches

  • Detects aneurysm, stenosis, pseudoaneurysm, thrombosis, or tumor encasement

  • Critical for hepatic surgery, transplantation, and interventional radiology procedures

  • Multiplanar and 3D reconstructions provide a vascular “roadmap” of the hepatic arteries

MRI image

Proper hepatic artery anantomy MRI axial image -img-00000-00000

MRI image

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

CT image

Proper hepatic artery CT axial image -img-00000-00000

CT image

Proper hepatic artery CT axial image -img-00000-00000_00001