Inferior pancreaticoduodenal artery

The inferior pancreaticoduodenal artery branches from the superior mesenteric artery or from its first intestinal branch, opposite the upper border of the inferior part of the duodenum.

The inferior pancreaticoduodenal artery is a branch of the superior mesenteric artery. As soon as it branches, it divides into anterior and posterior branches. These run between the head of the pancreas and the lesser curvature of the duodenum. They then join (anastomose) with the anterior and posterior branches of the superior pancreaticoduodenal artery.

It distributes branches to the head of the pancreas and to the descending and inferior parts of the duodenum.