A Descriptive Study on Anatomical Variations in Coeliac Trunk and Its Branches

Abstract

The present study aims to describe the anatomical variations in Coeliac Trunk and Its Branches. At the level of the lower border of the twelfth thoracic vertebra, the coeliac trunk is the first anterior branch of the abdominal aorta. The three primary traditional branches of the celiac trunk are the hepatic, splenic, and left gastric arteries. The variations of the coeliac trunk are common but asymptomatic; they may become important during surgeries and in some radiological procedures. During routine dissection on adult cadavers in Anatomy department, we found some variations in the branching pattern of the coeliac trunk. The first branch of the coeliac trunk is the left gastric artery, which then divides into the splenic and hepatic arteries. The left hepatic artery is considered as the origin of the right gastric artery. In addition, one right aberrant hepatic artery is visible entering the right lobe of the liver from the superior mesenteric artery. Left inferior phrenic artery and dorsal pancreatic artery are found originating from the coeliac trunk. Left gastric artery normally originates from the coeliac trunk, but in our study it is arising directly from the abdominal aorta. Knowledge of the variations is very useful in surgical, oncologic or interventional procedures and should be kept in mind to avoid complications. Complications in abdominal surgeries can be avoided with an accurate knowledge of the anatomical variations of the coeliac trunk.