The short gastric arteries are a group of small arterial branches that arise from the terminal portion of the splenic artery and supply the fundus and upper portion of the greater curvature of the stomach. Typically, four to five short gastric arteries are present, although the exact number may vary among individuals.
Origin and Course
The splenic artery, a branch of the celiac trunk, gives off the short gastric arteries near the hilum of the spleen. Each artery traverses a short, often tortuous, course through the gastrosplenic ligament—a peritoneal fold that connects the greater curvature of the stomach to the spleen. After crossing the ligament, the vessels pierce the serosa of the stomach and spread over the fundal region, anastomosing with the left gastro‑omental (gastro‑epiploic) artery.
Distribution
The short gastric arteries primarily perfuse the mucosa, submucosa, and muscular layers of the gastric fundus. Their distribution complements that of the left gastric and left gastro‑omental arteries, together forming a vascular network that ensures adequate blood supply to the proximal stomach.
Clinical Significance
Because the short gastric arteries are relatively small and situated within the gastrosplenic ligament, they are susceptible to injury during surgical procedures involving the spleen, such as splenectomy, or during fundoplication and bariatric surgeries targeting the gastric fundus. Ligation of these vessels is routinely performed during splenectomy without usually compromising gastric perfusion, owing to collateral flow from adjacent arterial branches. However, compromised short gastric circulation can contribute to gastric fundal ischemia in rare cases.
Anatomical Variations
Variability exists in the number, size, and exact point of origin of the short gastric arteries. In some individuals, the arteries may arise directly from the celiac trunk or from branches of the left gastro‑omental artery instead of the splenic artery. Such variations are relevant for pre‑operative imaging and intra‑operative navigation.
Embryology
During embryonic development, the stomach receives blood from a vascular plexus formed by branches of the ventral splanchnic (celiac) artery. The short gastric arteries represent a subdivision of this plexus that persists as the terminal branches of the splenic artery, reflecting the common embryological origin of the splenic and gastric vasculature.
