Pancreatic branches of splenic artery

The pancreatic branches are numerous small vessels derived from the splenic artery as it runs behind the upper border of the pancreas, supplying its body and tail.

One of these, larger than the rest, is sometimes given off near the tail of the pancreas; it runs from left to right near the posterior surface of the gland, following the course of the pancreatic duct, and is called the arteria pancreatica magna.

These vessels anastomose with the pancreatic branches of the pancreaticoduodenal and superior mesenteric arteries.