Inferior pancreatic artery

The inferior pancreatic artery (Transverse pancreatic artery; Testut's artery) is one of the pancreatic branches supplying the body and tail of the pancreas. It is most commonly considered to arise as the left terminal branch of the dorsal pancreatic artery, though it may also arise directly from the splenic artery, or occasionally from the gastroduodenal artery, the common hepatic artery, or the superior pancreaticoduodenal artery.

Course: From its origin, the inferior pancreatic artery runs transversely to the left along the posterior surface and inferior border of the body and tail of the pancreas, roughly parallel to the splenic artery but at a lower level, often following the course of the main pancreatic duct.

Branches: It gives off numerous small, unnamed branches along its course. These anastomose extensively with:

• Pancreatic branches of the splenic artery

• The greater pancreatic artery

• The pancreaticoduodenal arcades (via the dorsal pancreatic artery's right branch), forming a longitudinal collateral pathway between the coeliac axis and the superior mesenteric artery.

Supplied structures: Body and tail of the pancreas.

Nomenclature: Because of the discrepancy in naming (it is variably called the "inferior," "transverse," or occasionally "superior" pancreatic artery in different texts), its reported prevalence varies considerably in the literature. Some sources may also eroneously confuse the inferior pancreatic artery with the Inferior pancreaticoduodenal artery (which is a branch of the superior mesenteric artery).