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The [cystic artery] (FCAT: arteria cistica) is the artery that provides arterial blood supply to the gallbladder. It is found in the [triangle of Calot], also known as the “cystohepatic triangle” is a triangular region found within the lesser omentum connecting the duodenum, stomach, and liver. It is an area bound superiorly by the inferior surface of the liver, laterally by the cystic duct and the medial border of the gallbladder, and medially by the common hepatic duct.
It is usually a branch of the right hepatic artery, which is itself a branch of the proper hepatic artery.
After its origin from the right hepatic artery the cystic artery directs towards the neck of the gallbladder where it divides into anterior and posterior branches which then penetrate the gallbladder. These anterior and posterior branches are names "left and right" by Testut and Latarjet (1931) or "right and left" by Morris (1942).
The cystic artery, as most of the components of the region of the hepatobiliary tree, has well documented anatomical variations. A detailed explanation of these variations can be found here at the Illustrated Encyclopedia of Human Anatomic Variation, curated by Dr. Ronald Bergman.
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Hepatobiliary tree and arteries to the stomach. R=right, L= left, a.=artery, Gd a.= gastroduodenal artery |
