Anatomical insight into tortuosity of the splenic artery: a case report

ABSTRACT

The splenic artery is known to be tortuous in its entire course. The tortuosity of the splenic artery has been, reported in various arteriographic and corrosion cast studies but there are less histological studies to corraborate this fact. The present case describes tortuosity of the splenic artery, observed in a 47 year female cadaver who died of meningitis. The splenic artery was thickened and the tortuosity was evident from the number of loops it formed throughout its course. The splenic artery further divided into two branches [i.e upper and lower branches] to enter the spleen. The left gastroepiploic artery originated from the lower branch. A detail histological study of the specimen revealed the presence of calcification and atheromatous plaques. Presence of tortuosity of the vessel may be linked to atheroma, as seen in the present case. The tortuosity of the splenic artery accompanied with atheromatous plaques and calcification may result in hypertrophy of the muscle wall of the vessel and may be responsible for altering the dynamics of blood flow. Prior anatomical knowledge of tortuosity, abnormal loopings of the splenic artery and its branching pattern may be clinically important before performing any abdominal surgeries and also important for correct interpretation of arteriograms