A study on the variations of arterial supply to adrenal gland

Abstract

Introduction: Adrenal glands are richly vascular and get their arterial supply by means of three arteries namely superior, middle, inferior suprarenal arteries. The inferior phrenic artery gives off the superior branch, while middle branch arises directly from the abdominal aorta, and the inferior suprarenal branch is given off by the renal artery. Materials and methods: The study was conducted in 15 formalin fixed cadavers obtained from the department of Anatomy and are carefully dissected to observe the arterial supply of both right and left adrenal glands. Observations: It has been noted that variations were observed in four cases out of 30 adrenal glands, two cases showed variations on right side and in two cases variation is seen on left side. First case on the right side, both MSA and ISA are given off by ARA. In the second case on right side IPA is given off by RA and from the junction of these two arteries MSA was given .In third case on left side MSA is given by the coeliac trunk and ISA is from ARA, in fourth case on left side ISA is originated from ARA. Conclusion: A good understanding in the variation of adrenal gland vasculature is obligatory for a surgeon while performing adrenalectomy, kidney transplantations etc. and also for radiological arbitrations.