Artery of tail of pancreas

The artery of the tail of the pancreas (Arteria caudae pancreatis) is a terminal branch of the splenic artery (or one of its branches, such as the left gastroepiploic artery or a pancreatic branch) that supplies the tail of the pancreas. It is a relatively small vessel that courses along or within the parenchyma of the pancreatic tail, providing its primary arterial blood supply.

Origin: It most commonly arises from the splenic artery in its distal segment, near the splenic hilum, or from one of the terminal branches of the splenic artery (such as the left gastroepiploic artery or the inferior terminal branch of the splenic artery). In some anatomical variants, it may originate from the dorsal pancreatic artery or the great pancreatic artery (arteria pancreatica magna).

Course: The artery runs along the inferior or posterior surface of the pancreatic tail, often embedded within the pancreatic parenchyma, and anastomoses with other pancreatic branches to form an intrapancreatic arterial arcade.