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Splenic artery

The splenic artery is the largest branch of the celiac trunk, arising from its leftward course just below the diaphragm at the level of T12–L1 vertebrae. It follows a tortuous path along the superior border of the pancreas, running posterior to the stomach within the splenorenal ligament, before entering the hilum of the spleen.

Along its course, the splenic artery gives off several important branches, including the pancreatic branches, short gastric arteries, and the left gastroepiploic artery. At the splenic hilum, it divides into multiple segmental branches that supply the spleen. Its tortuosity is a well-recognized feature, especially in imaging.

The splenic artery plays a critical role in supplying arterial blood to the spleen, as well as contributions to the stomach, pancreas, and omentum. It is clinically significant in splenic trauma, aneurysms, pancreatic surgery, splenectomy, and interventional embolization procedures.

Synonyms

  • Lienal artery

  • Arteria splenica

  • Left branch of the celiac trunk

Function

  • Provides oxygenated blood to the spleen

  • Contributes to gastric supply via short gastric and left gastroepiploic arteries

  • Provides pancreatic branches that supply the body and tail of the pancreas

  • Maintains collateral circulation with branches of the left gastric and superior mesenteric arteries

Branches

  • Pancreatic branches → body and tail of pancreas

  • Short gastric arteries → fundus of stomach

  • Left gastroepiploic artery → greater curvature of stomach and omentum

  • Terminal splenic branches → segmental branches at splenic hilum

MRI Appearance

T1-weighted images:

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

  • Vessel wall is hypointense, seen against hyperintense peripancreatic fat

T2-weighted images:

  • Lumen remains a signal void

  • Pathology such as aneurysm or thrombosis may appear as abnormal signal intensity within lumen or wall

STIR (Short Tau Inversion Recovery):

  • Fat suppression improves delineation of the artery against peripancreatic fat

  • Highlights wall edema, inflammation, or adjacent pancreatitis-related changes

T1 Post-Contrast (Gadolinium-enhanced):

  • Splenic artery and its branches show bright, homogeneous enhancement

  • Clearly defines tortuosity, aneurysms, stenosis, or occlusion

  • Useful for mapping vascular supply to the spleen, stomach, and pancreas

MRA (Magnetic Resonance Angiography):

  • Contrast-enhanced MRA provides high-resolution depiction of the origin, tortuous course, branches, and splenic hilum supply

  • Excellent for detecting aneurysms, stenosis, occlusion, or variant anatomy

  • 3D reconstructions are valuable for preoperative and interventional planning

CT Appearance

Non-contrast CT:

  • Appears as a tubular soft tissue density following the superior pancreatic border

  • Calcifications (atherosclerotic plaques or aneurysms) appear hyperdense

CT Angiography (CTA):

  • Clearly visualizes the celiac trunk origin, splenic artery course, tortuosity, and terminal branches

  • Detects aneurysms (common in splenic artery), stenosis, thrombosis, or pseudoaneurysms

  • Provides detailed preoperative mapping for splenectomy, pancreatic surgery, or embolization

  • 3D reconstructions illustrate its complex and tortuous course

MRI images

Splenic artery anantomy MRI AXIAL image -img-00000-00000

MRI images

Splenic artery anantomy MRI CORONAL image -img-00000-00000

CT images

Splenic artery anantomy CT axial image -img-00000-00000

CT images

Splenic artery anantomy CTCORONAL image -img-00000-00000