Greater curvature of the stomach

The greater curvature of the stomach is directed mainly forward and is for or five times bigger than the Lesser Curvature.

Surface

The greater curvature starts from the cardiac orifice and ends at the incisura cardiaca. It then forms an arch backward, upward, and then to the left. The highest point of convexity is on a level with the Costal Cartilage. From this level it may be followed downward and forward, with a slight convexity to the left as low as the cartilage of the ninth rib; it then turns to the right, to the end of the pylorus. Directly opposite the incisura angularis of the lesser curvature the greater curvature presents a dilatation, which is the left extremity of the pyloric part; this dilatation is limited on the right by a slight groove, the sulcus intermedius, which is about 2.5 cm, from the duodenopyloric constriction. The portion between the sulcus intermedius and the duodenopyloric constriction is termed the pyloric antrum. At its commencement the greater curvature is covered by peritoneum continuous with that covering the front of the organ. The left part of the curvature gives attachment to the gastrolienal ligament, while to its anterior portion are attached the two layers of the greater omentum, separated from each other by the gastroepiploic vessels.

Blood Supply

There are three arteries which primarily supply the greater curvature:

• short gastric arteries - upper part

and the gastroepiploic vessels:

• gastric branches of left gastro-omental artery - middle part
• gastric branches of right gastro-omental artery - lower part