General information
The stomach serves as a temporary reservoir for the food taken in. This is also where the digestive process begins.
Arterial supply
The arterial supply of the stomach (vascular supply stomach) is comparatively complex. In anatomical terms, the stomach is divided into small curves (minor curvature) and large curves (major curvature), which are supplied differently. The small curvature is supplied by the right and left gastric arteries (Arteriae gastricae dextrae et sinistrae).
The right hepatic artery originates from the hepatic artery (Arteria hepatica communis), while the left hepatic artery originates from the truncus coeliacus. The large curvature is supplied by the right and left gastro-maxillary artery (Arteriae gastroomentales dextra et sinistra). The left gastro-macular artery originates from the splenic artery (Arteria splenica), while the right gastro-macular artery originates from the gastro-intestinal artery (Arteria gastroduodenalis).
Via various branches, however, all arteries that supply the stomach originate from the Truncus Coeliacus, which has its outlet from the aorta. The venous outflow of the small curvature (vascular supply to the stomach) runs through the right and left gastric veins (Venae gastricae dextra et sinistra), that of the large curvature through the right and left gastric reticular veins (Venae gastroomentales dextra et sinistra). All the venous vessels of the stomach finally lead to the portal vein (Vena Portae) of the liver.
