Unusual anatomical variation: tetrafurcation of the celiac trunk

Surg Radiol Anat. 2019 Nov;41(11):1399-1403. doi: 10.1007/s00276-019-02286-9. Epub 2019 Jul 13.

Abstract

The celiac trunk is one of the main sources of vascularization of the supracolic abdominal compartment. It arises from the abdominal aorta, at the level of T12-L1 vertebrae and classically branches into the splenic artery, common hepatic artery, and left gastric artery. We report here an atypical branching pattern of the celiac trunk, found during the dissection of a 60-year-old female's formalin-fixed cadaver. The atypically celiac trunk gave rise to four branches: a common trunk for left and right inferior phrenic arteries, an accessory left gastric artery, the common hepatic artery, and a splenogastric trunk. Knowledge in detail about normal anatomy and variation in the branching pattern of the celiac trunk is important in surgical, oncological, and radiological interventional procedures and must be taken into account to avoid possible complications.

Keywords: Anatomy; Celiac trunk; Phrenic artery; Splenogastric trunk; Variation.

Publication types

  • Case Reports
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Anatomic Variation*
  • Aorta, Abdominal / abnormalities
  • Cadaver
  • Celiac Artery / abnormalities*
  • Dissection
  • Female
  • Gastric Artery / abnormalities
  • Hepatic Artery / abnormalities
  • Humans
  • Middle Aged
  • Splenic Artery / abnormalities