Anatomical Study of Variations in the Branches of Superior Mesenteric Artery – A Study from a Teaching Hospital in Chennai, India

Abstract

BACKGROUND Superior Mesenteric Artery (SMA) is one of the anterior branches of the abdominal aorta. It originates from abdominal aorta at the level of lower border of first lumbar vertebra, one centimeter below the coeliac trunk. It gives the first branch inferior pancreaticoduodenal artery (IPDA), The colic branches arise from concave right side of the superior mesenteric artery, these are middle colic artery (MCA), right colic artery (RCA), ileo colic artery (ICA). Jejunal and ileal branches arise from left side of the SMA. Superior mesenteric artery supplies derivatives of midgut. Knowledge of branching pattern of the SMA is clinically important to gastroenterologists operating on gut and neighboring structures like pancreas, duodenum, and liver. We wanted to study the variations in the branches of superior mesenteric artery. METHODS This is a descriptive study conducted on 50 adult embalmed human cadavers by conventional dissection method, the findings were noted and tabulated. RESULTS Present study shows that inferior pancreatic duodenal artery orginated from SMA in 47 (94 %) specimens. IPDA was absent in 3 (6 %) specimens. Middle colic artery was found to arise from SMA in 48 (94 %) and MCA was absent in 2 (4 %) specimens. Right colic artery was found to arise from SMA in 47 (94 %) specimens and it was absent in 3 (6 %) specimens. Ileo-colic artery was found to arise from SMA in all 50 (100 %) specimens. CONCLUSIONS Awareness of these complex variations may prevent devastating complications during colonic surgeries. Variations in the branching pattern of superior mesenteric artery is essential for surgeons operating on derivatives of midgut, liver, pancreas. KEY WORDS Branches, Colic, Superior Mesenteric Artery, Variations