Left Bifid Ureter and Renal Artery Variation in an Adult Female Cadaver

Abstract

During the retroperitoneal space dissection of a 77‐year‐old female cadaver, a left duplicated ureter (DU) was observed along with variations of left renal artery branching pattern. The ureter, typically 25–30cm in length, is a continuation of the renal pelvis that receives filtrate from 2 or 3 major calyces before entering the bladder. In this cadaver, two separate ureters that drained upper and lower kidney, with lengths of 12.4 cm and 10.6 cm respectively. The two ureters then joined to form a common ureter with a length of 12.7 cm before entering the bladder. There are two types of DU; this type of DU has been previously described as an incomplete or bifid ureter and is a commonly asymptomatic congenital abnormality of the kidney and urinary tract (CAKUT). However, it can produce symptoms of frequent urinary tract infections, urinary lithiasis, ureteric stenosis and renal colic (1). The incidence of any type of DU is 1 in 100 to 1 in 500 (2) and is also more common in women than men, with a ratio of 2:1 (1). Unusual blood supply of the left kidney was also observed with an aberrant left renal artery arising from the abdominal aorta 4 cm inferior to the left renal artery, crossing anterior to the DU and supplying the lower pole of the left kidney. The ovarian artery was observed arising from this aberrant left renal artery. The incidence of the gonadal artery arising from a source other than the abdominal aorta is approximately 20% (3). The incidence of an aberrant renal artery is observed in 20–30% of the population and has the potential to result in hydronephrosis (4).Support or Funding Information