title: Autopsy study of anatomical features of the posterior gastric artery for surgical contribution.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate features of the posterior gastric artery (PGA) with respect to incidence, location and size by using autopsy subjects.
  
  
  METHODS
  Autopsies were performed on 72 cadavers of adults with no history of abdominal operations. The localization of the PGA, the distance between the root of the splenic artery and the origin of the PGA, and the external diameter of the PGA were examined.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The PGA was recognized in all patients. In 70 (97.2%) cadavers, the PGA branched from the splenic artery, and one female in this group had two PGAs. In 1 (1.4%) patient, the PGA originated from the root of the celiac trunk and in another (1.4%) patient, the PGA branched from the superior polar artery. Overall, the PGA extended for a length of 5.8-12.2 (mean, 8.4) cm from the root of the splenic artery, and the external diameter of the PGA was 1.2-3.2 (mean, 2) mm.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The anatomical features of the PGA can be readily observed and characterized by autopsy. This study has provided valuable information on the features of the PGA useful in the planning of surgical treatment.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Kochi Medical School, Kohasu-Okocho, Nankoku-City 783-8505, Japan. tokabaya@med.kochi-u.ac.jp
authors.forename: Takehiro
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Okabayashi
authors.forename: Michiya
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kobayashi
authors.forename: Isao
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Nishimori
authors.forename: Kazuya
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Yuri
authors.forename: Takanori
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Miki
authors.forename: Yoshiki
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Takeuchi
authors.forename: Saburo
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Onishi
authors.forename: Kazuhiro
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Hanazaki
authors.forename: Keijiro
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Araki
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001158:Arteries / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000473:pathology; D001344:Autopsy; D002102:Cadaver; D002445:Celiac Artery / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013157:Splenic Artery / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000473:pathology; D013270:Stomach / Q000098:blood supply* / Q000473:pathology*