Ovarian arteries with bilateral unusual courses

Abstract

Bilateral unusual coursed ovarian arteries were found in a 45-year-old female cadaver. The ovarian arteries arose from the abdominal aorta at a level inferior to the corpus of L1 vertebra bilaterally. The right ovarian artery was coursing behind the inferior vena cava. The left one was coursing between the left renal artery and vein upward to the level of the inferior part of the body of Th12 vertebra. At the level of Th12 vertebra, it turned caudally and proceeded downward between the anterior-inferior and posterior segmental renal veins. On both sides, ovarian arteries were on their normal routes below the L2 vertebra accompanying the ovarian veins. The variation determined by this study would reduce possible complications of nephrectomy operations that urologists, gynecologists and other related surgeons may encounter.