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The celiac () artery (also spelled coeliac in British English), also known as the celiac trunk, Haller's tripod or truncus coeliacus, is the first major branch of the abdominal aorta. It is about 1.27 cm (half an inch) in length. Branching from the aorta at the level of the T12-L1 intervertebral disc in typical anatomy, it is one of three anterior/midline branches of the abdominal aorta (the others are the superior and inferior mesenteric arteries).
There are three main divisions of the celiac artery, and each in turn has its own named branches:
| esophageal branch, stomach branch | |
| proper hepatic artery, right gastric artery, gastroduodenal artery | |
| dorsal pancreatic artery, short gastric arteries, left gastro-omental artery, greater pancreatic artery |
The celiac artery may also give rise to the inferior phrenic arteries.
The celiac artery is an essential source of blood, since the interconnections with the other major arteries of the gut are not sufficient to sustain adequate perfusion. Thus it cannot be safely ligated in a living person, and obstruction of the celiac artery will lead to necrosis of the structures it supplies.
Most blood returning from the digestive organs (including from the area of distribution of the celiac artery) is diverted to the liver via the portal venous system for further processing and detoxification in the liver before returning to the systemic circulation via the .
In contrast to the drainage of midgut and hindgut structures by the superior mesenteric vein and inferior mesenteric vein respectively, venous return from the celiac artery is through either the splenic vein emptying into the hepatic portal vein or via smaller tributaries of the portal venous system.
The celiac artery is vulnerable to compression from the crus of the diaphragm during Breathing where it originates from the abdominal aorta. This is known as median arcuate ligament syndrome. This may present no symptoms, but can cause pain due to restricted blood flow to the superior mesenteric artery.
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