VARIATION IN THE ORIGIN OF INFERIOR PHRENIC ARTERIES FROM THE COELIAC TRUNK

The inferior phrenic arteries (IPA) are major arterial supply to the diaphragm and also contribute arterial branches to the suprarenal glands and oesophagus. Normally, they originate from the abdominal aorta however; variations in their origin have been reported. During routine cadaveric dissection of 65 years old male cadaver, a variation was observed in which both the right and left inferior phrenic arteries originated from the coeliac trunk instead of the abdominal aorta. This variation may be attributed to the persistence of embryonic connections between the coeliac trunk and inferior phrenic arteries during development, awareness of such vascular anomalies is crucial for surgeons and radiologists performing hepatobiliary, adrenal and upper abdominal procedures to avoid inadvertent vascular injury and ensures accurate interpretation of angiographic findings. Recognition of these variations enhances surgical precision and supports safer operative and interventional planning.