A. =A. cœliaca= (Fig. 125).--The cœliac artery is a large branch which is given off from the aorta one centimeter or less caudad of the opening in the diaphragm. It passes directly ventrad about three or four centimeters, then divides, usually at once, into three branches. The most cranial of these is the =hepatic= (_d_), the next is the =gastrica sinistra= (_e_), while the third and largest, seeming to form a continuation of the cœliac, is the =splenic= (_f_) (=A. lienalis=). The cœliac artery may give rise also, before its division, to the two =phrenic= arteries (which, however, usually arise from the adrenolumbales), and either before or at the point of division to one or two small =Aa. ventriculi dorsales=, which, however, frequently arise from the gastrica sinistra. [Illustration: FIG. 124. THE PALMAR ARCH AND ITS BRANCHES IN THE PALM OF THE HAND. The interosseous muscles have been removed, except those of the third and fourth digits. 1, M. abductor digiti quinti; 2, 3, Mm. interossei of third and fourth digits; 4, M. adductor pollicis; 5, M. flexor brevis pollicis. _a_, termination of radial artery; _b_, palmar arch; _c_, A. princeps pollicis et indicis; _d_, Aa. interosseæ; _e_, muscular branches of the same; _f_, A. ulnaris; _g_, deep palmar branch of ulnar nerve.] Branches of the cœliac artery: 1. =A. hepatica= (_d_).--The hepatic artery passes cranioventrad, pierces the descending limb of the great omentum and passes craniad to the liver, lying, together with the portal vein and common bile-duct, in the ventral boundary of the foramen epiploicum (foramen of Winslow) and contained, together with the last-named vessels, in a fibrous sheath called the capsule of Glisson. Just before entering the sheath it gives off the =gastroduodenalis= (_g_). At its termination the hepatic artery divides, sending branches to the lobes of the liver and a =cystic= artery to the gall-bladder. [Illustration: FIG. 125.--THE CŒLIAC ARTERY AND ITS BRANCHES. _a_, abdominal aorta; _b_, A. cœliaca; _c_, A. mesenterica superior (cut); _d_, A. hepatica (cut); _e_, A. gastrica sinistra; _f_, A. lienalis; _g_, A. gastroduodenalis (cut from A. hepatica); _h_, A. pylorica; _i_, A. gastroepiploica dextra; _j_, A. pancreaticoduodenalis superior; _k_, A. pancreaticoduodenalis inferior (cut from inferior mesenteric); _l_, A. ventriculi dorsalis. 1, spleen; 2, stomach; 3, duodenum; 4, pancreas.]