Origin
- From the thoracic aorta after it passes through the aortic hiatus of the diaphragm at the level of T12
Course
- Retroperitoneal
- Left of the median plane, anterior to the spine
- At the level of the umbilicus/L4, dividing (aortic bifurcation) into the common iliac arteries
Branches from cranial to caudal
- Inferior phrenic arteries
- Coeliac 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 digestive organs
