Variant Right Renal and Adrenal Arterial Supply With Associated Clinical and Embryological Perspectives

Abstract

Variations in the origin, course, and number of renal and adrenal arteries are common and linked to the embryonic arterial supply of the mesonephros and the ascent of the metanephros. This report aims to document a rare anatomical variant observed in the arterial supply of the right kidney of a 43-year-old formalin-embalmed male cadaver. The right accessory (apical segmental) renal artery originated from the superior mesenteric artery, supplying both the adrenal gland and the apical segment of the right kidney. This case features multiple arterial supplies, along with long primary and secondary prehilar segmental branches. These anatomical variations likely result from the persistence and fusion of lateral splanchnic segmental arteries during embryogenesis. Recognizing such arterial variants in the kidneys and adrenal gland is crucial for radiological and surgical planning, especially in procedures involving retroperitoneal organs.