---
title: "Right Gastric Artery | Anatomy and Physiology I"
description: "Right gastric artery: a branch of the common hepatic artery that supplies the lesser curvature and pyloric region of the stomach in Anatomy and Physiology I."
canonical: "https://fiveable.me/anatomy-physiology/key-terms/right-gastric-artery"
type: "key-term"
subject: "Anatomy and Physiology I"
unit: "Unit 20"
---

# Right Gastric Artery | Anatomy and Physiology I

## Definition

The right gastric artery is a branch of the common hepatic artery that sends oxygenated blood to the lesser curvature of the stomach and the pyloric region. In Anatomy and Physiology I, it shows how abdominal arteries branch and supply the digestive tract.

## What It Is

The right gastric artery is a blood vessel in the abdominal circulation that delivers oxygenated blood to the stomach, especially along the lesser curvature and toward the pylorus. In Anatomy and Physiology I, you usually meet it while tracing how the celiac trunk and its branches serve the foregut.

It most often arises from the common hepatic artery, then runs along the stomach’s lesser curvature. That path matters because arteries do not just appear near an organ by chance, they follow the organ’s surface and send smaller branches into the tissue that needs oxygen and nutrients. The right gastric artery helps feed the stomach lining and muscular wall so the organ can keep mixing food and secreting gastric juice.

The lesser curvature is the shorter, inner curve of the stomach. If you picture the stomach as a J-shaped sac, the right gastric artery travels along the lower inner border rather than the outer curve. Near the pyloric region, it helps supply the area that controls the passage of partially digested food from the stomach into the duodenum.

This artery also sits in an important network of blood supply. It anastomoses, or connects, with the left gastric artery along the lesser curvature. Those connections give the stomach some backup circulation, so if one route is narrowed, another may partially keep blood flowing.

When you study it, think about location, origin, and target tissue together. The origin tells you where the vessel comes from, the course tells you where it travels, and the supply tells you which part of the stomach it serves. That three-part pattern is how most abdominal arteries are remembered in A&P.

## Why It Matters

The right gastric artery matters because it ties vascular anatomy to digestive anatomy in a very testable way. If you can place this artery on the stomach and trace it back to the common hepatic artery, you are really showing that you understand how major abdominal branches support a specific organ.

It also helps you connect circulation to function. The stomach is not just a hollow sac, it is active muscle and glandular tissue that needs continuous oxygen delivery. A well-supplied lesser curvature and pyloric region support secretion, mixing, and movement of food into the small intestine.

This term also shows up in regional anatomy questions where you have to identify structures on diagrams or cadaver-style images. The right gastric artery can be used to test whether you can separate the lesser curvature from the greater curvature, and the pyloric region from the body of the stomach. It is a small vessel, but it points to a bigger pattern of foregut blood supply.

## Connections

### [Common Hepatic Artery](/anatomy-physiology/key-terms/common-hepatic-artery)

The right gastric artery usually branches from the common hepatic artery, so this is the vessel you trace first when mapping the stomach’s blood supply. Knowing that parent branch helps you build the larger arterial route from the celiac trunk into the digestive organs. It is a good reminder that smaller arteries usually come off larger named pathways.

### Lesser Curvature of Stomach

The right gastric artery runs along the lesser curvature, so the artery and the surface landmark go together in anatomy diagrams. If you can find the lesser curvature, you can often predict where this vessel travels. That makes it easier to orient the stomach on a model and distinguish the inner curve from the outer border.

### Pyloric Region

The pyloric region is the part of the stomach near the outlet to the duodenum, and the right gastric artery helps supply blood there. That matters because the pylorus is a working zone, not just a shape on a diagram. When you study gastric anatomy, linking a vessel to this region helps you connect blood flow with digestion.

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

The abdominal aorta is the main highway that gives rise to the major unpaired branches feeding the abdominal organs. Even though the right gastric artery does not come directly off the abdominal aorta, you still need that upstream vessel in your mental map. It helps you understand how blood moves from the heart into the digestive system through larger branches first.

## On the AP Exam

A labeled diagram, vessel-tracing question, or short-answer item may ask you to identify where the right gastric artery comes from and what part of the stomach it supplies. The move is simple: locate the common hepatic artery, then follow the vessel along the lesser curvature toward the pylorus. You may also be asked to compare it with the left gastric artery or explain why the stomach has overlapping arterial supply.

On image-based questions, pay attention to the stomach’s inner curve. If the prompt shows the lesser curvature and a small artery running there, that is often the clue. In lab practicals, you may need to name the artery, state its origin, or connect it to the foregut blood supply pattern rather than memorize it as an isolated fact.

## right gastric artery vs Left Gastric Artery

The right gastric artery and left gastric artery both supply the lesser curvature of the stomach, so they are easy to mix up. The big difference is origin and side: the right gastric artery usually comes from the common hepatic artery, while the left gastric artery comes from the celiac trunk. If you see a vessel on the right side of the lesser curvature near the pylorus, think right gastric artery.

## Key Takeaways

- The right gastric artery supplies oxygenated blood to the lesser curvature of the stomach and the pyloric region.
- It usually branches from the common hepatic artery, then travels along the stomach’s inner border.
- This artery is part of the foregut blood supply, so it fits into the larger abdominal circulatory pathway.
- The right gastric artery connects with the left gastric artery along the lesser curvature, which gives the stomach overlapping blood flow.
- In A&P I, you use this term to trace vessels, identify stomach landmarks, and connect structure to digestive function.

## FAQs

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

It is an artery that supplies oxygenated blood to the lesser curvature of the stomach and the pyloric region. In A&P I, it is usually studied as part of the abdominal blood supply and the branching pattern from the common hepatic artery.

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

It most commonly branches from the common hepatic artery. That makes it part of the arterial network coming from the celiac region of the abdominal circulation.

### What part of the stomach does the right gastric artery supply?

It supplies the lesser curvature of the stomach and often sends branches toward the pyloric region. If you are looking at a diagram, it follows the inner curve of the stomach rather than the outer border.

### How is the right gastric artery different from the left gastric artery?

Both supply the lesser curvature, but they usually come from different sources. The right gastric artery usually arises from the common hepatic artery, while the left gastric artery usually comes from the celiac trunk. That difference is a common anatomy question.

## Related Study Guides

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

## About This Document

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