Blood Vessels of the Stomach, Anterior View

Description

Oriented in anterior anatomical position, the male stomach is rendered with the distal esophagus entering the cardia superiorly and the pylorus narrowing distally to continue into the first part of the duodenum. Along the lesser curvature, the left and right gastric arteries run within the lesser omentum, accompanied by paired gastric veins draining toward the portal system. The greater curvature carries the left and right gastro-omental (gastroepiploic) vessels coursing laterally and inferiorly, with short gastric vessels ascending toward the fundus near the splenic hilum region. Fine intramural branches spread over the anterior surface. Dense vascular arcades define both curvatures. Mapping these named vessels onto the stomach’s surface matters because they mark the operative planes and bleeding risks that dominate upper gastrointestinal surgery. During distal gastrectomy or pyloroplasty, you ligate along the greater and lesser curvatures, and preservation or division of the right gastro-omental artery and right gastric artery changes perfusion of the gastric remnant. Ulcer disease is not just mucosa, posterior gastric ulcers can erode the splenic artery (via short gastric territory) and cause brisk hemorrhage, while variceal dilation of gastric veins near the fundus can accompany portal hypertension and complicate endoscopic therapy. Vessel orientation makes the difference. Use this plate to teach foregut vascular supply in gross anatomy, gastrointestinal surgery, and endoscopy modules, or to support figures in textbooks and journal articles discussing gastrectomy, bariatric procedures, peptic ulcer bleeding, and portal hypertensive gastropathy. It also suits patient-facing surgical consent materials where curvatures and named arteries must be shown cleanly and consistently. Anatomical accuracy verified by SciePro's Medical Advisory Board.