Final answer:
Posterior duodenal ulcers can penetrate the gastroduodenal artery, leading to significant hemorrhage. This artery is a branch of the common hepatic artery, which is supplied by the celiac trunk of the abdominal aorta. Complications from peptic ulcers can be severe, including bleeding and perforation.
Step-by-step explanation:
Posterior duodenal ulcers penetrate the gastroduodenal artery, causing hemorrhage. This is significant because the gastroduodenal artery is a branch of the common hepatic artery, which is a major artery derived from the celiac trunk of the abdominal aorta. It supplies blood to the stomach and the beginning of the duodenum. A peptic ulcer occurring in this region can erode through the intestinal wall into the artery, resulting in bleeding.
Peptic ulcers are sores that develop in the lining of the stomach, lower esophagus, or duodenum. They are usually associated with Helicobacter pylori infection and can cause serious complications if they penetrate deeply, leading to perforation or bleeding from arterial erosion.
The alimentary canal, specifically the small intestine and parts of the large intestine, receives blood supply from the superior mesenteric artery. This major vessel branches off from the abdominal aorta, which provides critical blood flow to the organs of the digestive system. The abdominal aorta is the continuation of the thoracic aorta after it passes through the diaphragm.