Cystic artery

The cystic artery is the principal blood vessel supplying the gallbladder. It is typically a branch of the right hepatic artery, arising within the hepatobiliary triangle (triangle of Calot), which is bounded by the cystic duct inferiorly, the common hepatic duct medially, and the inferior surface of the liver superiorly.

Origin: Most commonly arises from the right hepatic artery (~70-80% of cases). Variant origins include the left hepatic artery, proper hepatic artery, gastroduodenal artery, superior mesenteric artery, or directly from the celiac trunk.

Course: It typically passes posterior to the common hepatic duct and cystic duct to reach the gallbladder, where it divides into a superficial branch (supplying the peritoneal surface) and a deep branch (running between the gallbladder and the liver bed).

Caliber: Usually a small-caliber vessel (13 mm in diameter).