Aberrant Splenic Artery: Case Report of Splenic Artery originating from Superior Mesenteric Artery

Abstract

The splenic artery is a relative constant branch of the celiac artery. The celiac trunk arises from the abdominal aorta and after a short course divides into the left gastric, common hepatic and splenic arteries. Aberrances describing the gastric and the hepatic branches are quite common but aberrances in the origin of the splenic artery are rarely seen. We present a case where the splenic artery does not follow the normal course; instead, it arises from the Superior Mesenteric Artery which arises from the anterior surface of the aorta below the celiac artery at the level of the first lumbar vertebra. A review of the frequency of this anomaly is also described.