Anatomical variants · USMLE Step 1

A surgeon notes that the right renal artery passes anterior to the IVC instead of posterior. This represents which vascular variant?

  1. Circumaortic renal artery
  2. Precaval right renal artery
  3. Accessory superior renal artery
  4. Inferior polar renal artery
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Correct answer: Precaval right renal artery

A pre-caval right renal artery is a known variant in which the artery courses anterior to the IVC. Identifying this prevents inadvertent injury during retroperitoneal surgery.

Difficulty: Medium Question 5 of 20

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