SUPERIOR MESENTERIC ARTERY ARISING FROM CELIAC AXIS ASSOCIATED WITH AN ACCESSORY LEFT HEPATIC ARTERY FROM LEFT GASTRIC ARTERY- A RARE ANATOMIC VARIATION
Author: CHITRA P.S., ANANDHI V.
Category: Anatomy
Abstract:
The superior mesenteric artery originates from the aorta 1cm below the coeliac trunk, at the level of L 1-2 intervertebral disc. It lies posterior to the splenic vein and the body of the pancreas. 1 We describe an extremely rare anatomic variant-celiomesenteric trunk (CMT) that consists of celiac and superior mesenteric arteries having a common origin from the aorta, and also an accessory left hepatic artery(ALHA) arising from the left gastric artery, in the same case. Knowledge about the variant anatomy is essential to accomplish surgical, oncologic or interventional procedures including lymhadenectomy around hepatospeenomesenteric trunk, chemoembolization of liver malignancies, all of which can potentially create significant morbidity because of the large visceral territory supplied by single vessel.
Keywords: Celiomesenteric trunk, superior mesenteric artery, celiac artery, accessory left hepatic artery, left gastric artery, variation.
