Right gastroepiploic artery

Review of
proximal splenic artery embolization in blunt abdominal trauma. Schematic representation of collateral pathway of right gastroepiploic (thick curved black arrow) to left gastroepiploic artery (thin curved black arrow). The right gastroepiploic artery is a terminal branch of the gastrodoudenal artery (GDA; straight white arrow). It courses within the greater omentum along the greater curvature of the stomach. The left gastroepiploic artery may arise from the distal splenic or an inferior polar artery
CVIRendovasc.springeropen.com • CC-by-4.0
Review of
proximal splenic artery embolization in blunt abdominal trauma. 56 year old female, history of alcoholism, fall from standing height. Celiac artery angiogram after proximal splenic artery embolization with an AMPLATZERTM Plug (star a). This shows collateral perfusion to the spleen and distal splenic artery (straight black arrows b-d) via GDA (thin straight white arrow b, c) → right gastroepiploic (curved white arrow b-d) → left gastroepiploic pathway (curved black arrow b-d). Note that the parenchymal opacification of the spleen is markedly delayed compared to the liver, an expected finding after PSAE (d). Corkscrew intrahepatic arteries and the recannalized periumbilical vein with hepatopedal flow (thick white arrow b, c) are consistent with the patient’s known history of alcohol cirrhosis and portal hypertension
CVIRendovasc.springeropen.com • CC-by-4.0
Radiopaedia • CC-by-nc-sa 3.0 • de

The right gastroepiploic artery (RGA) arises from the gastroduodenal artery as it divides into its two terminal branches, the right gastroepiploic artery and the superior pancreaticoduodenal artery.

Gross Anatomy

Course

The RGA passes between the first part of the duodenum and the pancreas, then turns left to enter between the two layers of the greater omentum along the greater curvature of the stomach. This anastomoses with the left gastroepiploic artery, which arises from the splenic artery.

Branches

The RGA has branches that supply both the anterior and posterior surfaces of the stomach.

Both left and right gastroepoploic arteries give off branches known as the epiploic branches that pass inferiorly between the two layers of the greater omentum. These branches pass over the transverse colon, but do not supply it.