Variaciones en la distribución de las ramas de la arteria celíaca

The celiac artery is a short vessel that takes origin at the front surface of the abdominal aorta. The aim of this study is to describe the variability in the branching pattern of this important vascular element, thus expanding the information available. 50 Venezuelans fetuses ranging from 25 to 39 weeks gestacional age were dissected, previously 10 % formalin fixed and perfused with red vinyl, with the following findings: A) In 64 % (32 cases) classical description of branching was observed, with the left gastric artery, hepatic and lienal as unique branches; B) In 28 % (14 fetuses) the emergence of additional branches as: inferior phrenic arteries, dorsal pancreatic, right gastric, gastroduodenal and left inferior adrenal arteries were seen; C) In 4 % common hepatic artery was not part of the branches of the celiac artery, and it divided into the left gastric artery and lienal with additional features such as superior mesenteric artery and right gastric; D) In 2 % the left gastric artery and common hepatic artery originated from celiac artery, while lienal artery was forming a trunk with superior mesenteric, and; E) In 2 % was not found the celiac artery and the three traditional branches: left gastric, common hepatic and lienal, emerged directly from the aorta.