Abnormal origin of left ovarian artery from the inferior renal polar artery - a rare anatomical variation

Anatomical variations of the renal arteries and gonadal arteries are not uncommon owing to their embryological origin. Awareness of possible anatomical variations of the renal artery and gonadal artery is essential for surgeons who perform open and minimally invasive procedures of the kidneys and retroperitoneal region to prevent disastrous haemorrhagic complications during those procedures and for radiologists to prevent misinterpretations of imaging and to prevent vascular complications during interventional procedures.

The present report describes an unusual variation of the left ovarian artery arising from the inferior renal polar artery which originated from the abdominal aorta superior to the main renal artery.