Unique origin of the cystic artery

Hlaing KPP, Thwin SS, Shwe N
Correspondence: Dr Khin Pa Pa Hlaing, khinpapah@gmail.com

ABSTRACT
The cystic artery (CA) is known to exhibit variations in its origin and branching pattern.This is attributed to the developmental changes occurring in the primitive ventral splanchnic arteries. During routine dissection of a male cadaver, we observed that the CA originated from the middle hepatic artery (MHA) at a distance of about 1 cm from its origin, and the MHA originated from the right hepatic artery at a distance of 2.1 cm from its origin. The CA traversed for a distance of 1.5 cm, giving off a branch to the cystic duct. It then passed  anterior to the cystic duct. The origin of the CA was located to the left of the common hepatic duct, outside the Calot’s triangle. The topographical anatomy of the arterial system of the hepatobiliary region and their anomalous origin should be considered during hepatobiliary surgeries. This knowledge is also important for interventional radiologists in routine clinical practice.

Keywords: arteries,bile ducts, gallbladder, hepatic artery, hepatic duct
Singapore Med J 2011; 52(12): e262-e264