Unique course of the ovarian artery associated with other variations

In a Japanese female cadaver, the left ovarian artery originated from the abdominal aorta superior to the level of the renal vessels. Accompanied by 2 veins, it coursed laterally to the upper pole of the left kidney, then inferiorly along its posterolateral aspect. Two vessels branched from it; the first went to the left suprarenal gland as a substitute for the missing left inferior suprarenal artery, whereas the second supplied the diaphragm as a supernumerary inferior phrenic artery. The venae comitantes drained into the left renal vein. Associated unusual findings were (1) external lobation of the left kidney, (2) supernumerary left renal artery, and (3) the uterine artery being the main arterial supply to the left ovary. The aberrant course of the ovarian artery may have resulted from an abnormal descent of the left ovary under the influence of a wandering gubernaculum during development. Our report also points to the potential for an ectopic artery, i.e. the ovarian to be located in a place other than its definite pelvic position.