Abnormal systemic arterial morphology Abnormal abdominal aorta branch artery morphology The abdominal aorta extends from the T12 vertebra and terminates at the L4 vertebra. It gives off anterior, lateral, and posterior branches that supply the abdominal viscera and vertebrae at this level, eventually dividing into the common iliac arteries. Upaired branches (and their typical location) comprise the celiac artery (T12), the superior mesenteric artery (L1), the inferior mesenteric artery (L3), and the median sacral artery. Paired branches comprise the middle adrenal arteries, the renal arteries (L1-2), the gonadal arteries (between L2 and L3), the inferior phrenic arteries, and the lumbar arteries. The abdominal aorta bifurcates into right and left common iliac arteries at L4.