Variant origin of the middle colic artery from the gastroduodenal artery

A detailed anatomical knowledge of the normal and variant blood supply of the colon remains an essential prerequisite in modern day advanced abdominal surgery viz., abdominopelvic resection, carcinoma of colon and pancreatic surgery. The colon receives its blood supply from the branches of superior and inferior mesenteric arteries. Though certain studies have been devoted to assess arterial variations, only a minority of previous studies report such incidence. The present study reports 2 cases of middle colic artery arising from the gastroduodenal artery instead of its usual origin from the superior mesenteric artery, an unusual variation encountered in literature or clinical surgery.