Origin
- From the thoracic aorta after its passage through the aortic hiatus of the diaphragm at the level of T12
Course
- Retroperitoneal
- Left of the median plane and anterior to the spine
- At the level of the umbilicus / L4, division (bifurcatio aortae) into the common iliac arteries
Branches from superior to inferior
- Inferior phrenic arteries
- Celiac trunk
- Middle suprarenal artery, right and left
- Superior mesenteric artery
- Renal artery, right and left
- Ovarian / testicular artery, right and left
- Lumbar arteries
- Inferior mesenteric artery
- Median sacral artery
Distribution
- Paired branches: Abdominal wall, paired retroperitoneal organs, gonads
- Unpaired branches: Spleen, unpaired intestinal organs
