Normal and variant arterial supply of the liver and gallbladder

The vascular supply of the liver and gallbladder is characterized by a striking degree of polymorphism. The occurrence of variants that differ from the usual pattern is both surprisingly common and unpredictable. Knowledge of this variable anatomy is particularly important during surgical interventions in which preoperative imaging studies are not available, such as in organ procurements. In this report we consider various anatomical arterial configurations, and describe an unusual variant.