Anterior to the abdominal aorta, as it descends, are the pancreas and splenic vein, the left renal vein, and the inferior part of the duodenum.
Several left lumbar veins cross it posteriorly as they pass to the inferior vena cava.
On its right side are the cisterna chyli, thoracic duct, azygos vein, right crus of the diaphragm, and the inferior vena cava.
On its left side is the left crus of the diaphragm.
Branches of the abdominal aorta (Table 4.3) can be classified as: visceral branches supplying organs, posterior branches supplying the diaphragm or body wall, or terminal branches.
The visceral branches are either unpaired or paired vessels.
The three unpaired visceral branches that arise from the anterior surface of the abdominal aorta (Fig. 4.164) are: the celiac trunk, which supplies the abdominal foregut, the superior mesenteric artery, which supplies the abdominal midgut, and the inferior mesenteric artery, which supplies the abdominal hindgut.
The paired visceral branches of the abdominal aorta (Fig. 4.164) include: the middle suprarenal arteries—small, lateral branches of the abdominal aorta arising just above the renal arteries that are part of the multiple vascular supply to the suprarenal gland; the renal arteries—lateral branches of the abdominal aorta that arise just inferior to the origin of the superior mesenteric artery between vertebrae LI and LII, and supply the kidneys; and the testicular or ovarian arteries—anterior branches of the abdominal aorta that arise below the origin of the renal arteries, and pass downward and laterally on the anterior surface of the psoas major muscle.
The posterior branches of the abdominal aorta are vessels supplying the diaphragm or body wall. They consist of the inferior phrenic arteries, the lumbar arteries, and the median sacral artery (Fig. 4.164).
The inferior phrenic arteries arise immediately inferior to the aortic hiatus of the diaphragm either directly from the abdominal aorta, as a common trunk from the abdominal aorta, or from the base of the celiac trunk (Fig. 4.164). Whatever their origin, they pass upward, provide some arterial supply to the suprarenal gland, and continue onto the inferior surface of the diaphragm.
There are usually four pairs of lumbar arteries arising from the posterior surface of the abdominal aorta (Fig. 4.164). They run laterally and posteriorly over the bodies of the lumbar vertebrae, continue laterally, passing posterior to the sympathetic trunks and between the transverse processes of adjacent lumbar vertebrae, and reach the abdominal wall. From this point onward, they demonstrate a branching pattern similar to a posterior intercostal artery, which includes providing segmental branches that supply the spinal cord.
The final posterior branch is the median sacral artery (Fig. 4.164). This vessel arises from the posterior surface of the abdominal aorta just superior to the bifurcation and passes in an inferior direction, first over the anterior surface of the lower lumbar vertebrae and then over the anterior surface of the sacrum and coccyx.
The inferior vena cava returns blood from all structures below the diaphragm to the right atrium of the heart. It is formed when the two common iliac veins come together at the level of vertebra LV, just to the right of midline. It ascends through the posterior abdominal region anterior to the vertebral column immediately to the right of the abdominal aorta (Fig. 4.166), continues in a superior direction, and leaves the abdomen by piercing the central tendon of the diaphragm at the level of vertebra TVIII.