Dorsal Pancreatic Artery, Posterior View

Description

Arising most often from the proximal splenic artery near the celiac trunk, the dorsal pancreatic artery courses inferiorly and slightly medially along the posterior surface of the pancreatic neck and body, giving short penetrating branches into the parenchyma. From a posterior perspective, it lies anterior to the abdominal aorta and left crus of the diaphragm, with the splenic vein typically running in a close, horizontal plane along the posterior pancreatic border. The relationship to the superior mesenteric vessels becomes clearer at the pancreatic neck, where arterial branches approach the uncinate process and the root of the mesentery. Small arterial arcades toward the inferior pancreatic artery and greater pancreatic artery are implied by the branching pattern. Posterior vascular anatomy of the pancreas matters when you are trying to control bleeding in a deep field. The dorsal pancreatic artery is a frequent contributor to collateral flow between the celiac axis and superior mesenteric artery territories, and it can enlarge in celiac artery stenosis or median arcuate ligament compression, complicating dissection along the posterior pancreatic capsule. During pancreaticoduodenectomy or distal pancreatectomy, unrecognized dorsal pancreatic artery branches can avulse near the splenic artery origin or retract behind the gland, and their proximity to the splenic vein raises the stakes for simultaneous venous injury. A common site of surprise. Use this illustration in surgical anatomy teaching for hepatopancreatobiliary fellows, in atlas plates that map pancreatic arterial variants, or in radiology and endovascular education when correlating CTA findings with operative landmarks for pancreatic hemorrhage and pseudoaneurysm. Anatomical accuracy verified by SciePro's Medical Advisory Board.