The celiac “seagull” (Fig. 1) refers to the division of the celiac trunk into the hepatic artery and splenic artery, which resembles a seagull soaring (Fig. 2).

Fig. 1
figure 1

Transverse abdominal ultrasound image demonstrating the bifurcation of the celiac artery (CA) into the hepatic artery (HA) on the right and splenic artery (SA) on the left, resembling a seagull. The asterisk (*) denotes the abdominal aorta

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Fig. 2
figure 2

A seagull stretching its wings [2]

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Anatomically, the celiac artery arises from the abdominal aorta from level of the twelfth thoracic vertebra and trifurcates into the common hepatic, splenic artery, and the left gastric artery.

The “seagull” is observed in a transverse plane over the epigastrium, and serves as a useful landmark for identification of the celiac trunk [1].