open access

Vol 82, No 1 (2023)
Case report
Submitted: 2021-10-06
Accepted: 2021-11-15
Published online: 2021-11-26
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Rare left colic artery variation of the gut arterial system

S. A. Memar1, A. M. Taylor2, S. Ahuja2, D. T. Daly2, Y. Tan2
·
Pubmed: 34845717
·
Folia Morphol 2023;82(1):198-204.
Affiliations
  1. A.T. Still University Kirksville College of Osteopathic Medicine, Kirksville, MO, United States
  2. Centre for Anatomical Science and Education, Department of Surgery, Saint Louis University School of Medicine, Saint Louis, MO, United States

open access

Vol 82, No 1 (2023)
CASE REPORTS
Submitted: 2021-10-06
Accepted: 2021-11-15
Published online: 2021-11-26

Abstract

Most variations of the abdominal blood supply are related to branching of the coeliac trunk and superior mesenteric artery. This case details a remarkable variation in the branching pattern of the left colic artery (LCA) observed during routine cadaveric dissection of an 84-year-old male donor. An anomalous common trunk, originating from the common hepatic artery, gave rise to three branches: 1) an accessory posterior pancreaticoduodenal artery to the head of the pancreas and adjacent duodenum, 2) the dorsal pancreatic artery anastomosing with branches of the splenic artery, and 3) the LCA. The LCA descended between the splenic vein and superior mesenteric artery to supply the left colic flexure and form a collateral route with the middle colic artery by contributing to the marginal artery of Drummond. Knowledge of this variation is clinically relevant for surgical and radiological procedures in the abdomen.

Abstract

Most variations of the abdominal blood supply are related to branching of the coeliac trunk and superior mesenteric artery. This case details a remarkable variation in the branching pattern of the left colic artery (LCA) observed during routine cadaveric dissection of an 84-year-old male donor. An anomalous common trunk, originating from the common hepatic artery, gave rise to three branches: 1) an accessory posterior pancreaticoduodenal artery to the head of the pancreas and adjacent duodenum, 2) the dorsal pancreatic artery anastomosing with branches of the splenic artery, and 3) the LCA. The LCA descended between the splenic vein and superior mesenteric artery to supply the left colic flexure and form a collateral route with the middle colic artery by contributing to the marginal artery of Drummond. Knowledge of this variation is clinically relevant for surgical and radiological procedures in the abdomen.

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Keywords

left colic artery, variation, inferior mesenteric artery, coeliac trunk, common hepatic artery, anomaly, anomalous, anastomosis, collateral, colon, liver, pancreas

About this article
Title

Rare left colic artery variation of the gut arterial system

Journal

Folia Morphologica

Issue

Vol 82, No 1 (2023)

Article type

Case report

Pages

198-204

Published online

2021-11-26

Page views

3574

Article views/downloads

1053

DOI

10.5603/FM.a2021.0130

Pubmed

34845717

Bibliographic record

Folia Morphol 2023;82(1):198-204.

Keywords

left colic artery
variation
inferior mesenteric artery
coeliac trunk
common hepatic artery
anomaly
anomalous
anastomosis
collateral
colon
liver
pancreas

Authors

S. A. Memar
A. M. Taylor
S. Ahuja
D. T. Daly
Y. Tan

References (20)
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