EMBRYOLOGY, ANATOMY, AND SURGICAL EXPOSURE OF THE GREAT ABDOMINAL VESSELS

The abdominal aorta and its major branches supply oxygenated blood to virtually all of the organs in the abdominal cavity, so it is not surprising that patients with traumatic injury or generalized atherosclerotic occlusive disease of the visceral circulation, more often than not, present with life-threatening conditions. The rational management of patients with these problems mandates that surgeons have a thorough knowledge of the vascular anatomy of these vessels, the associated pattern of collateral variation, and necessary technical maneuvers required for adequate operative exposure. This article reviews the anatomy of the abdominal aorta and its major visceral arteries, their embryologic origins, and the common patterns of collateral flow. The surgical exposure of the abdominal aorta and its major branches are also described.