An inferior polar accessory renal artery - a cadaveric case report of a renal arterial variation

The renal arteries are classically described as paired lateral branches of the abdominal aorta that enter the renal hilum. However, additional or accessory renal arteries are well-recognized anatomical variants and may enter the kidney through the hilum or directly through a renal pole.[1,2] The present report describes an inferior polar arterial variation identified during routine cadaveric dissection. During exposure of the posterior abdominal wall and renal vascular pedicle, an additional arterial channel was observed in relation to the kidney and traced toward the inferior pole, distinct from the principal hilar renal artery. The photographic documentation demonstrates the vessel and its relationship to the kidney, great vessels and surrounding retroperitoneal structures. Based on the gross appearance, the finding is consistent with an inferior polar accessory renal artery. Recognition of this variation is important in renal transplantation, partial nephrectomy, laparoscopic and endourological procedures, vascular surgery, radiological interpretation and teaching of applied anatomy. Recent evidence indicates that accessory renal arteries are common enough to warrant systematic consideration, with a pooled prevalence of approximately 21% in a recent systematic review.[5] This cadaveric observation emphasizes the continuing value of dissection in demonstrating clinically relevant vascular variation that may be underappreciated when only textbook anatomy is considered.