dorsal pancreatic artery

The dorsal pancreatic artery is an artery that branches from the splenic artery and supplies the head, uncinate process, neck, body, and tail of the pancreas, anastomosing with the superior pancreaticoduodenal artery.

It is located in the upper abdomen, arising from the proximal splenic artery and running posterior to the neck of the pancreas before dividing into branches that supply the entire gland.

Its function is to provide a major arterial supply to the pancreas, giving rise to branches that perfuse the head, uncinate process, neck, body, and tail, and forming important anastomoses with the pancreaticoduodenal arterial arcades.

Pancreatic tumors, pancreatitis, and celiac artery stenosis may be associated with alterations in the dorsal pancreatic artery, and its collateral connections are surgically important.

CT angiography or selective celiac and splenic angiography may be used to visualize the dorsal pancreatic artery and evaluate its contribution to pancreatic perfusion.