**Core Concept**
The gastrosplenic ligament is a peritoneal fold that connects the stomach to the spleen. It is formed during embryological development from the dorsal mesogastrium, a primitive peritoneal fold that supports the developing stomach.

**Why the Correct Answer is Right**
The gastrosplenic ligament arises from the dorsal mesogastrium, which is the embryonic peritoneal fold that originally supported the stomach. As the stomach and spleen develop, the dorsal mesogastrium gives rise to the ligament connecting the stomach to the spleen. This structure is distinct from the splenic artery or vein, which are vascular structures, and not the origin of the ligament.

**Why Each Wrong Option is Incorrect**
Option A: The splenic artery is a blood vessel that supplies the spleen and stomach, but it does not give rise to the gastrosplenic ligament.
Option B: The splenic vein drains blood from the spleen and stomach, and is not the origin of the ligament.
Option D: The ventral mesogastrium supports the anterior part of the stomach and forms the greater omentum, not the gastrosplenic ligament.

**Clinical Pearl / High-Yield Fact**
Remember: The **dorsal mesogastrium** gives rise to the **gastrosplenic ligament**, while the **ventral mesogastrium** forms the **greater omentum**. This distinction is crucial in surgical anatomy and understanding peritoneal fold origins.

✓ Correct Answer: C. Dorsal mesogastrium