Accessory extrahepatic arteries: Blood supply of a human liver by three arteries

The coexistence of three hepatic arteries - accessory left hepatic artery (aLHA), proper hepatic artery (pHA), and accessory right hepatic artery (aRHA) - was demonstrated during a routine dissection of an 85-year-old male cadaver. The aLHA arose from the left gastric artery and ran in the hepatogastric ligament, whereas the aRHA took its origin from the superior mesenteric artery and ran in the hepatoduodenal ligament. The anatomy of the origins and the course of the arteries in the liver are described. Knowledge of these variations is of importance for surgical and radiological procedures in the upper abdominal region, in order to avoid complications during invasive treatment. The embryological background of the variations is discussed.