The middle colic artery originating from the coeliac trunk

A case is reported of an anomalous origin of the middle colic artery. The middle colic artery originated from the coeliac trunk (CT) instead of the superior mesenteric artery, the normal place of origin. The colon receives its blood supply from the superior and inferior mesenteric arteries. Since modern colon surgery requires a more detailed anatomy of blood supply, many articles have been published on the anatomy and variations of the arteries of the colon. However, the incidence of such an anomaly is low and there have been few previous reports. These arterial variations underscore the importance of performing vascular studies prior to major abdominal surgery.