Accessory renal arteries and bovine arch

Case contributed by Safwat Mohammad Almoghazy
Diagnosis almost certain

Presentation

Incidental findings in a patient recently diagnosed with right breast cancer, for CT staging.

Patient Data

Age: 45 years
Gender: Female

There are two arteries to each kidney, and one vein to each kidney. Conventional ureteric anatomy. There is also a bovine arch.

Case Discussion

This case illustrates anatomical variation of the renal artery anatomy. The right kidney has, besides the main renal artery, a lower polar artery.

The left kidney has two about equal-sized renal arteries (upper and lower).

It is important to bear in mind that accessory renal arteries may also rarely arise from other arteries rather the aorta, such as the

There is also a  common origin of brachiocephalic trunk and left common carotid artery: this is called a bovine arch.

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