Quick Facts
Origin: Proper hepatic artery.
Course: Travels along the lesser curvature of the stomach between the layers of the lesser omentum (hepatogastric ligament).
Branches: Gives off several small branches that descend onto the anterior and/or posterior surface of the stomach.
Supplied Structures: The right side of the lesser curvature of the stomach and adjacent anterior and posterior surfaces.
Origin
The right gastric artery typically arises from the proper hepatic artery. However, it can be variable. In 40–50% of cases, it arises from alternate sites, most commonly the common hepatic (40%) or left hepatic (15%) artery (Eckmann and Krahn, 1984).
Course
The right gastric artery travels between the layers of the lesser omentum (hepatogastric portion). It passes to the left, parallel to the lesser curvature of the stomach.
Branches
During its course, the right gastric artery gives off several small branches that pass onto the anterior and posterior surfaces of the pylorus, antrum, and body of the stomach. It terminates by anastomosing with the left gastric artery.
Supplied Structures
The right gastric artery supplies the right side of the lesser curvature of the stomach and adjacent anterior and posterior surfaces. This includes the superior pyloric canal, antrum, and right side of the gastric body.
References
Eckmann, I. and Krahn, V. (1984) '[Frequency of different sites of origin of the right gastric artery]', Anat Anz, 155(1-5), pp. 65-70.
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Gastric Artery
The right gastric artery is found between the two layers of the lesser omentum and runs along the lesser curvature of the stomach before dividing into two branches that anastomose with the branches of the left gastric artery.
