---
title: "Left Gastric Artery | Anatomy and Physiology I"
description: "Left gastric artery: a celiac trunk branch that supplies the stomach's lesser curvature and lower esophagus in Anatomy and Physiology I."
canonical: "https://fiveable.me/anatomy-physiology/key-terms/left-gastric-artery"
type: "key-term"
subject: "Anatomy and Physiology I"
unit: "Unit 20"
---

# Left Gastric Artery | Anatomy and Physiology I

## Definition

The left gastric artery is a branch of the celiac trunk that supplies oxygenated blood to the stomach's lesser curvature and the lower esophagus. In Anatomy and Physiology I, it shows how foregut organs get their arterial supply.

## What It Is

The left gastric artery is an arterial branch of the celiac trunk in Anatomy and Physiology I. It carries oxygenated blood to part of the stomach, especially the lesser curvature, and also sends branches to the lower esophagus.

You usually meet it when tracing blood flow through the abdominal organs. The celiac trunk comes off the abdominal aorta and quickly divides into major branches that serve foregut structures. The left gastric artery is one of those branches, so it is part of the pathway that brings fresh blood from the heart to the upper digestive tract.

Its stomach supply follows the inner, shorter border of the stomach called the lesser curvature. That detail matters because the stomach is not supplied by one single vessel. Different arteries feed different regions, and the left gastric artery is the main vessel associated with the upper left portion of the stomach and the upper end of the lesser curvature.

It also contributes to the lower esophagus. That connection matters anatomically because the esophagus crosses from the thorax into the abdomen, so some vessels bridge those regions. If you are labeling diagrams, this artery is often identified near the top of the stomach where the lesser curvature meets the esophagus.

A common point of confusion is thinking every stomach artery comes directly off the same vessel. In reality, the stomach has a rich arterial network. The left gastric artery is one part of that network, and its branches can meet branches from other arteries around the stomach wall, which helps maintain blood flow even if one route is reduced.

In plain terms, this artery is a named route on the map of abdominal circulation. Knowing where it comes from and where it goes helps you place it inside the larger blood supply of the digestive system instead of memorizing it as an isolated fact.

## Why It Matters

The left gastric artery shows how Anatomy and Physiology I connects anatomy to function, because a vessel is only useful if you can trace where it starts, what it supplies, and what happens if that route is blocked or altered. When you study the digestive system, this artery helps you link the celiac trunk to a specific stomach region instead of treating the abdomen as one generic blood supply.

It also comes up in diagram work and lab practicals. If you are looking at a torso model or a labeled image, being able to spot the left gastric artery on the lesser curvature can make the difference between a correct ID and a guess. That kind of recognition is a big part of A&P I, especially when the course mixes structures with circulation pathways.

This term also reinforces the idea that arteries usually carry oxygenated blood. The left gastric artery fits that pattern, unlike the pulmonary circuit exception you may see elsewhere in the course. Learning it in the context of the abdominal aorta and celiac trunk helps you build a mental map of how blood moves through the body system by system.

## Connections

### [Celiac Trunk](/anatomy-physiology/key-terms/celiac-trunk)

The left gastric artery branches from the celiac trunk, so you need the trunk first to place this vessel correctly. In abdomen diagrams, the celiac trunk is the short major branch off the abdominal aorta, and the left gastric artery is one of its first arterial offshoots. That relationship is what makes this term part of foregut circulation.

### Lesser Curvature of the Stomach

The left gastric artery runs along the lesser curvature, so this stomach landmark tells you where the vessel supplies blood. If you know the curvature is the shorter, inner border of the stomach, it becomes easier to understand why this artery is named for the stomach region it serves. They often appear together in labeled anatomy questions.

### [Abdominal Aorta](/anatomy-physiology/key-terms/abdominal-aorta)

The abdominal aorta is the larger vessel that gives rise to the celiac trunk, which then gives rise to the left gastric artery. Tracing that path helps you move from the main arterial highway to a specific branch. This is a common skill in A&P circulation work because many questions ask you to follow the source of a vessel.

### Oxygenated Blood

The left gastric artery carries oxygenated blood, so it fits the basic arterial pattern you learn in A&P I. That matters because you are not just memorizing names, you are identifying what kind of blood is moving and why the tissue needs it. The stomach and lower esophagus depend on this supply to stay healthy and function normally.

## On the AP Exam

A diagram question may ask you to identify the artery that branches from the celiac trunk and travels to the lesser curvature of the stomach. A labeling item may pair the vessel with the stomach's inner border or the lower esophagus. In a short-answer or quiz setting, you might also be asked to trace blood flow from the abdominal aorta to the celiac trunk and then to the left gastric artery.

When you see this term, the move is to connect origin, pathway, and target tissue. If the question names the stomach's lesser curvature, think left gastric artery. If it asks where oxygenated blood reaches the upper stomach, this is one of the main vessels you should name.

## Key Takeaways

- The left gastric artery is a branch of the celiac trunk in the abdominal circulation.
- It supplies oxygenated blood to the lesser curvature of the stomach and part of the lower esophagus.
- In Anatomy and Physiology I, you should be able to trace it from the abdominal aorta to the celiac trunk and then to the stomach.
- Its location on the lesser curvature makes it a common label on diagrams and practical images.
- The stomach has overlapping arterial supply, so this artery is part of a network rather than a single isolated vessel.

## FAQs

### What is the left gastric artery in Anatomy and Physiology I?

It is a branch of the celiac trunk that supplies oxygenated blood to the lesser curvature of the stomach and the lower esophagus. In A&P I, it is part of the abdominal arterial supply you learn when tracing blood flow from the abdominal aorta.

### Where does the left gastric artery come from?

It comes from the celiac trunk, which is a major branch off the abdominal aorta. That makes it part of the foregut blood supply, especially for upper stomach structures.

### What does the left gastric artery supply?

It supplies the lesser curvature of the stomach and sends branches to the lower esophagus. On diagrams, look for it near the top inner border of the stomach rather than along the outer curve.

### Is the left gastric artery the same as the gastric veins?

No. The artery brings oxygenated blood to the stomach, while veins carry blood away after the tissue has used oxygen. The names sound similar, but in A&P you need to track direction and oxygenation carefully.

## Related Study Guides

- [20.5 Circulatory Pathways ](/anatomy-physiology/unit-20/5-circulatory-pathways/study-guide/nKkAS5lkN4RVf6Kk)

## About This Document

Canonical Fiveable pages are available as Markdown at the same path plus `.md`.

- [llms.txt](https://fiveable.me/llms.txt): index of Fiveable's sections and URL patterns
- [llms-full.txt](https://fiveable.me/llms-full.txt): complete subject and unit listing
- [MCP server](https://fiveable.me/mcp): call Fiveable as tools instead of fetching pages (`https://fiveable.me/api/mcp`)
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