Dorsal pancreatic artery

The dorsal pancreatic artery (Haller's artery; Arteria pancreatica dorsalis) is an inconstant (92-96% of individuals.) branch of the arterial supply to the pancreas. It most commonly arises from the proximal 2 cm of the splenic artery, but its origin is highly variable: it can also arise from the common hepatic artery, the coeliac trunk, the superior mesenteric artery, the replaced right hepatic artery, or occasionally the inferior pancreaticoduodenal artery.

From its origin, the artery courses caudally behind the neck or body of the pancreas and the proximal portion of the splenic vein, running toward the dorsal aspect of the pancreas. It typically terminates near the inferior border of the pancreas, close to the origin of the portal vein.

The dorsal pancreatic artery gives off numerous branches, described as follow in the Terminologia Anatomica:

• Inferior pancreatic artery

• Prepancreatic artery

In other sources, the dorsal pancreatic artery is organized into a right branch and a left branch:

• Right branch (anastomotic branch): passes to the right, along the posterior surface or within the parenchyma of the pancreatic head/neck, anastomosing with branches of the superior and inferior pancreaticoduodenal arteries.

• Left branch (terminal branch): passes to the left along the inferior border of the body and tail of the pancreas, continuing as the transverse (inferior) pancreatic artery and anastomosing with splenic artery branches.