vitelline arteries (embryology)

Last reviewed 01/2018

The vitelline arteries are a group of embryonic vessels linking the dorsal aortae with the vitelline veins within the yolk sac. By birth, they have reorganised to form the three main arteries to the gastrointestinal tract:

• coeliac artery; supplies foregut derivatives
• superior mesenteric artery; supplies midgut derivatives
• inferior mesenteric artery; supplies hindgut derivatives