A common trunk of origin of the right testicular and middle suprarenal arteries with a retrocaval course

Abstract

A common trunk of origin of the right testicular and middle suprarenal arteries with a retrocaval course was observed during the dissection of a male cadaver. The Common trunk (CT) arose from the anterior aspect of the abdominal aorta (AA) at the level of the right renal artery (RRA) and after a short course behind the inferior vena cava (IVC), the CT divided into right testicular and middle suprarenal arteries. The middle suprarenal artery (MSA) passed upwards behind the IVC to the right suprarenal gland. The right testicular artery (RTA) descended posterior to the RRA and anterior to the IVC. It then continued on its normal route distally with the right testicular vein. The awareness of such variations of testicular and middle suprarenal arteries and their unusual origin and course might complicate the interpretation of angiograms and surgical procedures in the posterior abdominal area.

Keywords: Common trunk; Middle suprarenal artery; Retrocaval; Right testicular artery.

Fig. 1

a Photograph showing right testicular and middle suprarenal arteries from the common trunk; b Photograph showing supra renal arteries of the right suprarenal gland RTA Right testicular artery; AA Abdominal aorta; CT Common trunk; RRA Right renal artery; IPA Inferior phrenic artery; RSSA Right superior suprarenal artery; RMSA Right middle suprarenal artery; RISA Right inferior suprarenal artery; RSRG Right suprarenal gland

Fig. 2

Photograph showing retrocaval course of the RTA RTA Right testicular artery; RTV Right testicular vein; IVC Inferior vena cava; LRV Left renal vein; RRV Right renal vein; AA Abdominal aorta; LTA Left testicular artery