Left Gastroepiploic Artery, Anterior View

Description

Arising near the splenic hilum from the splenic artery, the left gastroepiploic (left gastro-omental) artery courses anteriorly to reach the greater curvature of the stomach and then runs from left to right within the greater omentum. Along this serpentine route it gives off gastric branches that ascend on the anterior surface toward the body and fundus, while omental branches descend inferiorly into the gastrocolic ligament. The esophagus enters superiorly at the cardia, and the pylorus continues distally into the first part of the duodenum. Orientation is clear. This anterior perspective is the one you want when teaching or planning interventions that involve the greater curvature blood supply, because it highlights the anastomotic arcade between the left gastroepiploic artery and the right gastroepiploic artery (from the gastroduodenal artery). Surgeons rely on this relationship during subtotal gastrectomy, sleeve gastrectomy, and omentectomy, where uncontrolled bleeding can occur if gastroepiploic branches are divided too close to the gastric wall or without recognizing variant caliber. It also maps the arterial pedicle used in a gastroepiploic artery graft, a less common but established option in coronary artery bypass surgery. Place this image in gross anatomy and GI surgery teaching decks to anchor the concept of greater curvature perfusion and the perigastric arterial arcades. It also fits well in bariatric surgery consent materials, operative atlases, and radiology correlations when explaining why angiography or CT can localize bleeding from peptic ulcer disease or anastomotic sites along the antrum and body. Anatomical accuracy verified by SciePro's Medical Advisory Board.