[Arterial vascularization of the 3rd and 4th portions of the duodenum. Recent acquisitions]

New knowledge on arterial blood supply of the 3rd and 4th parts of theduodenum. Injection of the digestive arterial system in 15 adult subjects allows the study of the blood supply of the 3rd and 4th parts of the duodenum. Although the duodeno-pancreatic arches are constantly found, the authors showed that the branches to the duodenum have a variable layout. On the right of the superior mesenteric artery, the distribution of the branches is always regular on both sides of the 3rd part of the duodenum. On the other hand, on the left of this artery, there is sometimes a vascular hiatus which may extend to the duodeno-jejunal angle. Although in 60 per cent of the cases, this part of the duodenum is well supplied with blood on both surfaces, in 40 per cent of the cases on the other hand, there exists an avascular area on both sides. This lay-out is not favorable for division and anastomosis of this segment of the digestive tract.