The proper hepatic artery provides blood supply to which organ?

The proper hepatic artery is a vital blood vessel that specifically supplies oxygenated blood to the liver. In the context of the abdominal vascular anatomy, the proper hepatic artery branches off from the common hepatic artery, which itself arises from the celiac trunk. This artery is crucial because the liver plays key roles in metabolism, detoxification, and bile production, amongst other functions, making its blood supply critical for maintaining its health and performance.

While the pancreas, spleen, and gallbladder have their own blood supply sources, they do not receive direct blood flow from the proper hepatic artery. The pancreas gets its blood primarily from the pancreatic arteries, the spleen is mainly supplied by the splenic artery, and the gallbladder receives blood from the cystic artery, which is a branch of the right hepatic artery. Hence, the liver is the organ that the proper hepatic artery directly nourishes, making it the correct answer.