International Journal of Health Sciences and Research www.ijhsr.org ISSN: 2249-9571

Original Research Article

Anatomical Variations in the Arterial Supply of the Suprarenal

Sushma R.K1, Mahesh Dhoot2, Hemant Ashish Harode2, Antony Sylvan D’Souza3, Mamatha H4

1Lecturer, 2Postgraduate, 3Professor & Head, 4Assistant Professor; Department of , Kasturba Medical College, Manipal University, Manipal-576104, Karnataka, India.

Corresponding Author: Mamatha H

Received: 29/03//2014 Revised: 17/04/2014 Accepted: 21/04/2014

ABSTRACT

Introduction: Suprarenal gland is normally supplied by superior, middle and inferior suprarenal which are the branches of inferior phrenic, abdominal and renal respectively. However the arterial supply of the suprarenal gland may show variations. Therefore a study was conducted to find the variations in the arterial supply of Suprarenal Gland. Materials and methods: 20 Formalin fixed cadavers, were dissected bilaterally in the department of Anatomy, Kasturba Medical College, Manipal to study the arterial supply of the suprarenal gland, which were photographed and different variations were noted. Results: Out of 20 cadavers variations were observed in five cases in the arterial pattern of supra renal gland. We found that in one cadaver superior supra on the left side was arising directly from the coeliac trunk. Another variation was observed on the right side ina cadaver that inferior and middle suprarenal arteries were arising from accessory renal artery and on the right side it gave another small branch to the gland. Conclusion: Variations in the arterial pattern of suprarenal gland are significant for radiological and surgical interventions.

KEY WORDS: Suprarenal gland, suprarenal artery, renal artery, , inferior phrenic artery

INTRODUCTION accessory renal arteries (ARA). However Suprarenal gland is highly vascular variations in the arterial architecture of the and receives blood flow about 5ml per suprarenal gland are common. [1] Knowledge minute. The required demand is supplied by of these variations is required as superior, middle and inferior suprarenal preoperative vascular evaluation is arteries. mandatory during surgical and radiological Superior suprarenal artery (SSA) interventions of the . [2-4] Therefore, usually arises from inferior phrenic artery it is essential to have a vivid knowledge of (IPA), a branch of abdominal aorta (AA). the normal and anomalous arterial pattern of Middle suprarenal artery (MSA) arises from the suprarenal gland to avoid complications the lateral aspect of AA at the level of during surgical intervention. superior mesenteric artery. Inferior The present study was therefore suprarenal artery (ISA) arises usually from undertaken to study the arterial supply of the the renal artery (RA) but occasionally from suprarenal gland and its possible variations International Journal of Health Sciences & Research (www.ijhsr.org) 31 Vol.4; Issue: 5; May 2014 which may provide an exact and accurate Figure 1: Showing the Middle suprarenal artery (MSA) arising from renal artery (RA) on the right side and from the inferior definition of the origin of the glandular phrenic artery (IPA) on the left. arteries and provide a reliable basis for the selective angiographic technical approach and surgical interventions.

MATERIALS AND METHODS 20 Formalin fixed cadavers of age ranging from 45 to 60, were dissected bilaterally in the department of Anatomy, Kasturba Medical College, Manipal to study the arterial supply of the suprarenal gland.

The arteries were painted and photographed. The variations in the arterial pattern were AA: Abdominal aorta, SSA: Superior suprarenal artery, ISA: Inferior suprarenal artery. noted and tabulated. Figure 2: Showing the Middle (MSA) & inferior suprarenal (ISA) arteries arising from accessory renal artery (ARA) on the right RESULTS side. In the left side, the Middle suprarenal artery was arising from Out of 20 cadavers i.e., 40 cases, CoeliacTrunk & Inferior suprarenal artery from accessory renal artery (ARA). variations were observed in 7 cases (2 bilaterally) in the arterial pattern of the suprarenal gland. The rest showed the normal arterial pattern [table 1].

Table 1: Variations in the branching pattern of the suprarenal arteries. Right Side Left Side SSA 20 (100%) cases from IPA 20 (100%) cases from IPA MSA 15(80%) cases from AA 18(90%) cases from AA 2(10%) cases from RA 1(5%) case from IPA 1(5%) case from ARA 1(5%) case from CT 2 (5%) case from IPA ISA 17(90%) cases from RA 18(90%) cases from RA 1(5%) case from ARA 2(10%) cases from ARA 2 (5%) case from IPA Figure 3: Left side showing 2 to 3 small branches of MSA arising from the abdominal aorta while Inferior supra renal artery was Case 1: On the right side, the MSA was arising from accessory renal artery. arising from the RA and on the left side from the IPA (Figure 1). Case 2: On the right side, MSA and ISA were arising from ARA while on the Left side the MSA was arising from the coeliac trunk &ISA from ARA (Figure 2). Case 3: On the Left side, 2 to 3 small twigs of the MSA were arising from the AA while ISAwas a branch of the ARA. The SSA was however normally arising from the IPA.

Normal arterial pattern was observed on the right side (Figure 3). Case 4: Right side showed the IPA

originating from the RA. The suprarenal

International Journal of Health Sciences & Research (www.ijhsr.org) 32 Vol.4; Issue: 5; May 2014 gland was entirely supplied by branches Case 5: On the right side, the IPA was arising from the junction between the RA arising from the RA. The arterial supply of and IPA. The arterial pattern was normal the suprarenal gland was provided by twigs when observed on the left side (Figure 4a). arising from IPA. Normal arterial pattern was observed on the left side (Figure 4b).

Figure4a & b:Right side showing theInferior phrenic artery (IPA) originating from the renal artery (RA).

Figure 4a: The suprarenal gland is supplied by twigs (*) arising at the junction between the renal and inferior phrenic artery. Figure 4b:All the arterial twigs to the suprarenal gland are (*) arising from the IPA.

DISCUSSION side; and caudal group with sixth, seventh, The blood supply of the suprarenal eighth and ninth arteries which remain gland presents a complexity. The arteries ventral to adrenal bodies. These arteries supplying the gland show variability in their normally disappear in caudal direction position and origin. [5, 6] except those supplying kidneys, , and Embryologically the formation of the suprarenal . [9] Persistence of one such blood vessels is attributed to vasculogenesis anomalous branch may be responsible for and angiogenesis. However, intussusceptive the variable origin of the suprarenal arteries. microvascular growth and intussusceptive Certain factors like growth, hemodynamics, arborization are responsible for vascular genetic factors and teratogenicity of the growth and remodelling. [7] chemical reagents may also influence the Arterial supply of the kidneys, aberrant origin of the arteries. [1] adrenal glands and gonads are derived from SSA usually arises from the IPA rete arteriosum urogenitale, which is formed which in turn is a branch of the AA. Studies by lateral splanchnic branches of dorsal have also reported anomalous origin of SSA aorta. [8] directly from AA and splenic artery. [1] The Earlier it was stated that there are IPAs may also show a variant origin. They approximately nine such lateral mesonephric normally originate from the AA and CT and arteries which are divided into cranial, sometimes may even arise from the RA. middle and caudal groups. The cranial group Various other sites of origin include the left comprises of first and second arteries gastric, hepatic, superior mesenteric, passing dorsal to adrenal body; middle spermatic, and suprarenal arteries. [10] group with third, fourth and fifth arteries In the present study SSA was arising passing through adrenal bodies of respective from the IPA. The latter was observed as a International Journal of Health Sciences & Research (www.ijhsr.org) 33 Vol.4; Issue: 5; May 2014 branch of AA in majority of the cases. But MSA plays an important role in the two cases presented the IPA originating supply of the gland, [14] and thus it becomes from the renal artery and all the arterial necessary to be acquainted with the twigs to the suprarenal gland were entirely variations in its origin, distribution and arising from the IPA. branching both clinically and surgically. The IPA is the most common source The ISA although is a branch of the of extra-hepatic collateral blood supply and RA can also arise from the AA, ARA, may also be associated with various Gonadal artery and rarely from the coeliac pathologies like hepatocellular carcinoma, trunk. [1] Present study also revealed ISA hemoptysis, diaphragmatic or hepatic arising from ARA in addition to its normal bleeding due to trauma or surgery, and origin. Additionally, ISA arising from the bleeding caused by gastroesophageal IPA was also identified. problems. [10] Therefore radiologists must be Manso & DiDio (2000) studied 30 familiar with the arterial pattern of the IPA pairs of suprarenal glands, with four inferior and its branches so that the pathologic suprarenal arteries (1.6%) supplying a single conditions related to the IPA can be gland. [3] Bordei et al. (2003) described three adequately managed. inferior suprarenal arteries in 6.6% of their MSA normally arises from the AA. cases. A common arterial trunk which It can also originate from the IPA, CT, RA, further trifurcated into middle and inferior ARA lumbar and gonadal arteries. [3] The suprarenal arteries and a renal artery was MSA may sometimes provide a testicular also reported. [15] Brohiet al. (2001) reported artery, more frequently on the left than on a case of high origin of the left testicular the right side. [11] artery from the aorta which in turn provided In a study, the arterial origin of MSA a suprarenal branch. There were no arterial when studied indicated 7% from the coeliac twigs to the suprarenal arising from the renal trunk and its branches and 3% from the artery. The SSA and MSA however had superior mesenteric artery. Additionally one normal origin. [11] case showed the emergence of MSA from In the present study, ISA mainly the lumbar artery on the left side. [12] In an arose from the RA in majority of the cases. angiographic review of 100 cases, Toni and However branches from the ARA and IPA his co-workers stated that on the left side have also been identified. MSA was provided by the AA, in 99% and According to Rossi (1968) and Rossi 1% from coeliac trunk, while on the right et al. (1979), arteriograms of the ISA are side, the MSA originated in 91% of cases imperative in the identification of tumors of from the aorta, 4% from the coeliac trunk, the gland. However the calibre, multiplicity 3% from the inferior phrenic artery and 2% and variations of the arteries pose a major from the renal artery. [13] problem in the arteriography of the The MSA originating from the renal suprarenal gland. [16, 17] artery was the rarest pattern in the above Exact and accurate definition of the study. The present study on the other hand anatomo-angiography of the origin of the reports two cases on the right side showing glandular arteries as an aortographic the MSA arising from the RA. The present presentation provides a reliable basis for the study also reports the origin of the MSA selective angiographic technical approach. from the IPA which in turn was a branch of [18] Moreover, since the gland has a the RA. particular anatomical specialty, it is important in surgical intervention to the International Journal of Health Sciences & Research (www.ijhsr.org) 34 Vol.4; Issue: 5; May 2014 retroperitoneal space. Because of the close 5. 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How to cite this article: Sushma R.K, Dhoot M, Harode HA et. al. Anatomical variations in the arterial supply of the suprarenal gland. Int J Health Sci Res. 2014;4(5):31-36.

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International Journal of Health Sciences & Research (www.ijhsr.org) 36 Vol.4; Issue: 5; May 2014