Which artery drains into the left gastric artery?

The left gastric artery is a branch of the celiac trunk, which is the primary arterial source for the foregut. The celiac trunk, which branches off the abdominal aorta, gives rise to three main arteries: the left gastric artery, the splenic artery, and the common hepatic artery.

The left gastric artery specifically supplies blood to the lesser curvature of the stomach and the lower esophagus. Understanding the relationship of the left gastric artery within the celiac trunk structure highlights its direct origin from this major artery. In contrast, the common hepatic artery and the splenic artery are also branches of the celiac trunk but lead to different areas and do not drain into the left gastric artery. The inferior mesenteric artery, on the other hand, supplies the hindgut and has no direct connection to the left gastric artery either, reinforcing how the left gastric artery branches specifically from the celiac trunk.

By recognizing that the left gastric artery is one of the direct branches of the celiac trunk, one can appreciate its anatomical significance and how it fits within the larger context of the arterial supply to the abdomen.