Common hepatic artery

The common hepatic artery in one of the three branches of the celiac artery. The common hepatic artery courses to the right, running along the superior border of the pancreas and entering the hepatoduodenal ligament, where it is positioned anterior to the portal vein and to the left of the common bile duct. It then gives rise to the gastroduodenal artery, which descends posterior to the duodenum, and continues as the proper hepatic artery toward the liver hilum.