Background : The mesenteric blood supply is a
combination of rich collateral networks. There are frequent
anatomical variants encountered and these variations are
sometimes involved in pathologies. Treatment of which
requires a better understanding of the variations in the normal
anatomy of the inferior mesenteric artery.
Methods : The present study was carried out in the
Department of Anatomy, Prathima Institute of Medical
Sciences, Karimnagar. A total of n=50 specimens, with n=17
adult males and n=2 adult female cadavers and fetuses of which
n=26 were term and n=2, was preterm. Female fetuses n=2 of
term and n=1 preterm were included in the study.
Results : The following variations were observed in
the present study of course and variations in the branches of
the inferior mesenteric artery and are grouped into three types.
Type I: In this type middle colic artery is arising from the inferior
mesenteric artery instead of the superior mesenteric artery.
It is a rare-variations and observed in a female fetus.
Type-II: Four Sigmoidal arteries are arising from an inferior
mesenteric artery, after the origin of the left colic artery. This
type is observed in a male fetus.
Type-III: Three Sigmoidal arteries are originated from the
inferior mesenteric artery. This type was observed in a male
adult and a male fetus.
Conclusion: Out of the 50 cases included in the study
we found type 1 variation of IMA in 2% of cases, type 2 variation
was found in 2% samples, and type 3 variation was found in
4% of samples. Based on the variations radiologists and
Surgeons should be aware of possible consequences when
doing colectomy, right hemicolectomy, left hemicolectomy,
sigmoidectomy, en-bloc resection of the head of the pancreas,
aneurysm, and chronic bowel ischemia. The present study is
also useful for reconstructive surgeries in inferior mesenteric
arteries in the case of ischemia.