An anomalous right gastroepiploic artery arising from the superior mesenteric artery

Abstract

During a routine dissection, the right gastroepiploic artery was found to arise from the superior mesenteric artery. The gastroduodenal artery ran in front of the common bile duct and descended along the posterior surface of the head of the pancreas (posterior superior pancreaticoduodenal artery). The enlarged pancreatic branch arising from the superior mesenteric artery mainly supplied the anterior surface of the head of the pancreas and then continued to become the right gastroepiploic artery. This route seemed to be formed due to the lack of connection between the posterior superior pancreaticoduodenal artery and the common trunk of the anterior superior pancreaticoduodenal and right gastroepiploic arteries.