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Unique origin of the cystic artery
K P P Hlaing1, S S Thwin, N Shwe
1Department of Anatomy, Faculty of Medicine, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Jalan Raja Muda Abdul Aziz, Kuala Lumpur 50300, Malaysia. khinpapah@gmail.com
Insights
This study details an unusual origin of the cystic artery (CA) from the middle hepatic artery (MHA) during cadaver dissection. Understanding these arterial variations is crucial for hepatobiliary surgery and interventional radiology.
Area of Science:
- Anatomy
- Vascular Anatomy
- Surgical Anatomy
Background:
- The cystic artery (CA) shows known variations in origin and branching patterns.
- These variations are linked to developmental changes in primitive ventral splanchnic arteries.
Observation:
- A male cadaver dissection revealed the CA originating from the middle hepatic artery (MHA).
- The MHA originated from the right hepatic artery, with specific distances noted for both origins.
Findings:
- The CA originated 1 cm from the MHA's origin and traveled 1.5 cm, branching to the cystic duct.
- The CA's origin was left of the common hepatic duct, outside Calot's triangle.
Implications:
- Knowledge of anomalous arterial origins in the hepatobiliary region is vital for surgical procedures.
- This anatomical understanding aids interventional radiologists in clinical practice.
Abstract:
The cystic artery (CA) is known to exhibit variations in its origin and branching pattern. This is attributed to the developmental changes occurring in the primitive ventral splanchnic arteries. During routine dissection of a male cadaver, we observed that the CA originated from the middle hepatic artery (MHA) at a distance of about 1 cm from its origin, and the MHA originated from the right hepatic artery at a distance of 2.1 cm from its origin. The CA traversed for a distance of 1.5 cm, giving off a branch to the cystic duct. It then passed anterior to the cystic duct. The origin of the CA was located to the left of the common hepatic duct, outside the Calot's triangle. The topographical anatomy of the arterial system of the hepatobiliary region and their anomalous origin should be considered during hepatobiliary surgeries. This knowledge is also important for interventional radiologists in routine clinical practice.
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