Inferior adrenal artery

The inferior adrenal (suprarenal) artery is one of three adrenal arteries that supplies the adrenal gland.

Gross anatomy

Origin

Ipsilateral renal artery (usually before the terminal division of the renal artery)

Location

The course of the inferior suprarenal artery depends on its origin. Renal artery branches travel obliquely, but a variant origin from the aorta may travel more horizontally. A more vertical course occurs from a take-off of the artery closer to the kidney. When there are multiple arteries, the relationship between arteries can be parallel, divergent, convergent or crossed .

Variant anatomy

The inferior adrenal artery has the greatest variation in regards to origin, morphology, and course of the three adrenal arteries. A study of 120 cases found single artery in 75% of cases, double 17% and triple 7% .

Other possible origins for the inferior adrenal artery include:

• terminal branch of renal artery
• from a supplementary renal artery
• off the aorta (more common on left and often as a common trunk with middle adrenal artery): 12%
• gonadal artery 
• celiac trunk