Radiological anatomy of the Abdominal aorta and its branches

1. Radiological anatomy of the abdominal aorta and its major branches. by Dr Taiwo Tosin Ojeremi Department of Radiology, Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital Shika- Zaria Nigeria

2. outline

3. Introduction • Continuation of thoracic aorta at diaphragmatic hiatus(12th thoracic vertebra) • It is 12cm long,2-3cm wide • It lies anterior to T12/l1 to l4 vertebrae • Accompanied by the thoracic duct, azygous and hemi-azygous vein, the sympathetic trunk and splanchnic nerve.

4. Relations

5. Relations

6. Branches of the abdominal aorta seen on angiogram as follows: • Three unpaired anterior branches: Coeliac trunk at T12/L1 Superior mesenteric artery at L1 Inferior mesenteric artery at L3 • Three lateral paired visceral arteries: Adrenal arteries at L1 Renal arteries at L1/L2 Gonadal arteries at L3

7. Cont’d • Five lateral paired parietal branches: Inferior phrenic arteries at T12 Four pairs of lumbar arteries • Terminal arteries: The common iliac arteries Median sacral artery.

9. Radiological anatomy of abdominal aorta and its major branches

10. Ultrasonography

12. Abdominal Aorta

13. Long. Scan demonstrating the abd. Aorta and it branch

14. Transverse scan

15. Doppler ultrasound of the Aorta • Sharp increase antegrade flow velocity followed • Rapid decrease that bottoms out in early diastole with a brief period of reversed flow. • Low velocity antegrade flow then resumes and continue for the rremainder of diastole.

16. coeliac trunk and branches on ultrasound

18. coeliac trunk

19. splenic artery

22. Intravenous Ultrasonography

24. Angiography

25. Computed tomography and CT angiography

27. CT at supra renal level demonstrating abd. Aorta and it branches

28. Sketch of ct at supra renal level

29. coeliac trunk

30. Renal Artery

31. SMA

32. Inferior Mesenteric Artery

33. CT at level of kidneys

34. Magnetic resonance imaging and MRI angiography

37. Radionuclide imaging

38. Plain films • Uses ionizing radiation though cheap and readily available • The abd. Aorta and its major branches are not demonstrable on plain radiograph except if calcified • if calcified, It is then seen as linear calcification vertically in the midline and to the left. .

40. others

41. References

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