Subgross and macroscopic investigation of the coeliac artery in the chinchilla (chinchilla lanigera).

The knowledge of branching and variations of the coeliac artery is clinically important, especially in the surgical operations and non-surgical treatments.Moreover, the chinchillas abdominal region have been used as a model in some surgical experimental researches. In this frame, we have aimed to explain the branching of this artery in the chinchillas detailedly. A total of 10 adult, healthy,male chinchillas (chinchilla lanigera) were used to investigate the origin and the course of the coeliac artery and its branches. Coloured latex was injected into the carotid arteries, following conventional anatomical applications. The results indicated that the coeliac artery was divided into 4 branches such as left gastricartery, hepatic artery, splenic artery and gastrolienal artery. The left gastric artery was a continuity of the coeliac artery and the main vessel of the stomach. The hepatic artery was divided into the left lateral branch, the left medial branch and the right branch. The splenic artery was covered by the pancreas tissue and sent branches to the pancreas. The gastrolienal artery was supplying the fundus of the stomach and the dorsal extremity of the spleen. We believe that the findings will be of help to the researchers interested in the anatomical area, surgeons and experimental researches.