Variations in the Superior Mesenteric Arterial Supply: A Comprehensive Review

This article provides a comprehensive review of anatomical variations of the superior mesenteric artery (SMA), synthesizing evidence from cadaveric dissections, computed tomography angiography (CTA), magnetic resonance angiography (MRA), and relevant clinical reports. The embryological mechanisms that give rise to common and rare SMA configurations are summarized, outlining the reported prevalence of major variants (including celiacomesenteric trunk, replaced/accessory hepatic arteries arising from the SMA, and variations of colic branches), and their surgical and endovascular implications are discussed. The review also examines current imaging modalities for detecting SMA variants, highlights technological advances—such as dynamic MRI approaches and artificial intelligence tools—that may improve variant detection and preoperative planning, and identifies persistent gaps in population-based prevalence data and functional hemodynamic assessments. Finally, practical recommendations are provided for clinicians and propose focused avenues for future research aimed at harmonizing classification systems, expanding large-scale imaging studies, and integrating functional flow assessments into clinical workflows.

کلیدواژه ها:

anatomical variations ، Embryology ، Imaging modalities ، Superior mesenteric artery ، Surgical implications ، vascular anomalies