Gastroduodenal artery

Looks like

A branch of the common hepatic artery running down behind the first part of the duodenum.

What it does

Supplies the duodenum, head of pancreas and stomach through its branches.

Keeping it well

A duodenal ulcer on the back wall can erode it and cause severe bleeding — black stools or vomiting blood is an emergency.

Related conditions

• Aortic aneurysm
• High blood pressure
• High cholesterol
• Hypothermia & frostbite
• Kawasaki disease
• Metabolic syndrome
• Orthostatic hypotension & POTS
• Peripheral artery disease
• Phaeochromocytoma & hyperaldosteronism
• Pre-eclampsia
• Raynaud's phenomenon
• Sepsis
• Shock (circulatory failure)
• Vasculitis (GCA & others)