Clinical Interest of Digestive Arterial Trunk Anastomoses

Overview

Journal Surg Radiol Anat

Specialties Anatomy & Histology
General Surgery
Radiology

Date 2006 Mar 21

PMID 16547602

Citations 37

Authors

Richard Douard

Jean-Marc Chevallier

Vincent Delmas

Paul-Henri Cugnenc

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Arterial vascularization of the gastrointestinal tract is a three-level system composed of the coeliac trunk, and both superior and inferior mesenteric arteries. The three levels are joined together via arterial trunk anastomoses such as the so-called and well-known Riolan arcade or supramarginal arcade. The aim of this study was to review the embryology of the digestive arteries in order to understand the anatomic variations, the development of the arterial trunk anastomoses and the potential collateral circulation in the case of obstruction of one or several arterial trunks. The arch theory by Mac Kay and Tandler longitudinal arterial anastomosis account for the genesis of the arterial trunk anastomoses and the main anatomic variations. The coeliac trunk and the superior mesenteric artery are joined together via the pancreaticoduodenal arcades and the Bühler arcade. These anastomoses are divided during pancreatic resections but developed in the case of coeliac trunk stenosis. The mesenteric arteries are joined together by the Riolan, Villemin arcades and by the marginal artery of Drummond. This collateral circulation and the Riolan arcade in particular, is utilized during left colonic resection. In the case of this collateral circulation insufficiency, inferior mesenteric artery reimplantation is necessary during abdominal aortic aneurysmectomy. Arteriopathy, more and more frequent due to population ageing is responsible for frequent obliteration of one or several digestive arterial trunks with subsequent development of collateral circulation. For such reasons, a sound knowledge of digestive arterial anatomy is an absolute prerequisite for surgical practice.

Citing Articles

Prevalence and clinical implications of the rare arc of Bühler using computed tomography angiography and digital subtraction angiography: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Yan G, Li Y, He S, Li H, McClure M, Li Q Front Med (Lausanne). 2025; 11:1522292.

PMID: 39991706 PMC: 11844322. DOI: 10.3389/fmed.2024.1522292.

Double Cystic Artery Originating From the Superior Mesenteric Artery and Right Hepatic Artery: A Case Report.

Rao T, Saini S, Ranaweera C, Dissabandara L Cureus. 2025; 16(12):e76536.

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Novel embryological classifications of hepatic arteries based on the relationship between aberrant right hepatic arteries and the middle hepatic artery: A retrospective study of contrast-enhanced computed tomography images.

Uraoka M, Funamizu N, Sogabe K, Shine M, Honjo M, Tamura K PLoS One. 2024; 19(2):e0299263.

PMID: 38416748 PMC: 10901311. DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0299263.

Variant origins of the middle colic artery from the coeliac trunk and its branches.

Belbl M, Kachlik D, Girsa D, Gurlich R, Whitley A Anat Sci Int. 2023; 99(2):215-220.

PMID: 37864758 DOI: 10.1007/s12565-023-00746-2.

A Unique Arc of Bühler Variant Connecting the Arteries of the Foregut, Midgut, and Hindgut and Its Surgical Significance.

Abouzaid K, Lichtenberg A, Karim A, Stack E, Algoul M, Imam A Cureus. 2023; 15(7):e42611.

PMID: 37641754 PMC: 10460548. DOI: 10.7759/cureus.42611.

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