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A rare branching pattern of hindgut: absence of inferior mesenteric artery

  • Anatomic Variations
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Abstract

The arterial system of the gastrointestinal tract has many variations. However, variation in the inferior mesenteric artery (IMA) is less common than for the other abdominal arteries. The case in the present cadaver subject showed a variation in the anatomy of the IMA that differed from those seen in previous studies, because it did not originate from the abdominal aorta and had no branches. A single artery arising from branches of the inferior pancreaticoduodenal and middle colic arteries supplied the hindgut. This variation generated blood vessels along the digestive tract during the later stages of development. The marginal artery of the colon in this case probably was more highly developed instead of the IMA. It is clinically important to know the range of variations, as these data are used in the diagnosis and treatment of abdominal diseases. This hitherto unknown variation might affect the health of patients, and we recommend radiographic examinations for diagnosis and treatment.

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Acknowledgements

We would like to thank Kwan-Hyun Youn, Medical Illustrator, for drawing of the figure.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Nursing, College of Nursing, Keimyung University, 1095 Dalgubeol-daero, Dalseo-gu, 42601, Daegu, Republic of Korea

    Deog-Im Kim

  2. Department of Anatomy, College of Medicine, Chung-Ang University, 84 Heukseok-ro, Dongjak-gu, 06974, Seoul, Republic of Korea

    Seung-Ho Han

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  1. Deog-Im Kim
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  2. Seung-Ho Han
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Correspondence to Seung-Ho Han.

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Kim, DI., Han, SH. A rare branching pattern of hindgut: absence of inferior mesenteric artery. Surg Radiol Anat 39, 803–806 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00276-016-1770-2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00276-016-1770-2

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