Curvatura

Curvatura is a term used in anatomy, derived from Latin, meaning curvature or bend. In medical Latin, curvatura denotes the curved margins of an organ and is most often encountered in reference to the stomach, where two principal curvatures are described: curvatura major (the greater curvature) and curvatura minor (the lesser curvature).

The curvatures define the overall shape of the stomach. The lesser curvature runs along the concave medial border from the gastroesophageal junction to the pylorus, whereas the greater curvature follows the convex lateral border from the cardioesophageal junction to the pylorus. Beyond merely marking edges, these curvatures serve as important anatomical landmarks for peritoneal attachments: the lesser curvature is connected to the liver by the hepatogastric ligament as part of the lesser omentum, and the greater curvature is connected to the transverse colon and spleen by the gastrocolic and gastrosplenic ligaments, forming the greater omentum.

Vascular and neural supply accompany the curvatures as part of the stomach’s broader blood and nerve networks. The lesser curvature receives blood primarily from the left and right gastric arteries, while the greater curvature is supplied by the left and right gastro-omental (gastroepiploic) arteries. Nerve supply follows the arterial pattern, with autonomic fibers accompanying these vessels.

In addition to the stomach, curvatura can be used more generally to describe curvature in other anatomical contexts described in Latin, though in modern English medical terminology the word curvature is more common. Curvatura remains a historical and nomenclatural reference within classic anatomical texts and certain educational resources.