Posterior abdominal wall vessels
Abdominal aorta
- Commences at vertebral level T12
- Ends by bifurcating into right and left common iliac arteries at L4. Anteriorly this corresponds to a point approximately 2cm below the umbilicus just left of the midline.
Abdominal aorta branches
| Branch position | Type | Branches |
|---|---|---|
| Anterior | 3 single anterior visceral branches (unpaired) | coeliac trunk superior mesenteric inferior mesenteric |
| Lateral | 3 lateral visceral branches (paired) | suprarenal renal gonadal |
| Lateral | 5 wall branches (paired) | inferior phrenic and lumbar (but names not required) |
| Terminal | 3 branches | Left common iliac (main branch) Right common iliac (main branch) Median sacral |
Level of selected branches/landmarks:
| Branch of aorta | Vertebral Level |
|---|---|
| Coeliac trunk | T12 |
| Superior mesenteric | L1 |
| Renal arteries | L1/2 |
| Testicular or ovarian arteries | L2 |
| Inferior mesenteric artery | L3 |
| Bifurcation of the abdominal aorta | L4 |
IVC
- Commences at vertebral level T8
- Ends by bifurcating below the aorta at L5 level.
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Diagram illustrating the abdominal aorta & IVC
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Diagram illustrating the abdominal aorta branches
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Diagram illustrating the diaphragmatic openings of the diaphragm