Anomalous renal arteries and its clinical implications

Often, the accessory renal arteries are observed near the hilum. Presence of anomalous accessory renal arteries may be associated with other underlying renal pathological conditions. We detected anomalous pattern of the renal arteries, in a 51 year old male cadaver, during routine undergraduate teaching program, in the department of Anatomy. The left renal artery originated at the level of the second lumbar vertebra and gave off two branches and each branch bifurcated into two branches which were destined to supply the suprarenal gland and the left kidney. However, the right renal artery displayed an early extra-renal division into two branches. The upper branch was found traversing to the upper pole, whereas the lower branch reached renal hilum by passing posterior to the renal pelvis. Anatomical description of this anomalous pattern of renal vasculature is presented in this case report, highlighting its clinical implications (Fig. 2, Ref. 10).