Common hepatic artery originating from superior mesenteric artery with replaced right hepatic artery

Area of Science:

• Anatomy
• Vascular Anatomy
• Surgical Anatomy

Background:

• Anatomical variations of the hepatic artery and its branches are clinically significant.
• Understanding these variations is crucial for surgical procedures involving the liver, pancreas, and duodenum.

Observation:

• A routine cadaver dissection revealed an unusual origin of the common hepatic artery from the superior mesenteric artery.
• This was accompanied by the superior pancreaticoduodenal artery arising from the gastroduodenal artery, a branch of the left hepatic artery.

Findings:

• The common hepatic artery originated from the superior mesenteric artery, subsequently dividing into left and right hepatic arteries.
• The superior pancreaticoduodenal artery originated from the left hepatic artery, while the inferior pancreaticoduodenal artery originated from the superior mesenteric artery.
• Two posterior branches of the right hepatic artery supplied the duodenum and pancreas, forming arterial arcades.

Implications:

• This case represents a rare simultaneous occurrence of a replaced common hepatic artery and a replaced right hepatic artery.
• The coexistence of these variations suggests independent developmental pathways during embryogenesis.
• Awareness of such arterial anomalies is vital for accurate interpretation of imaging and safe surgical interventions.