title: Contribution to the significance of persisting embryonic vessels in the adult organism.
abstract: A persisting vitelline artery that remained asymptomatic during lifetime was studied by gross anatomy, histologically and by x-rays: histologically we found an extensive adaptation to mechanical stress; radiologically an anastomosis of the persisting vitelline artery with a terminal branch of the superior epigastric artery was found, which has not been described until now.
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001158:Arteries / Q000196:embryology / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D014816:Vitelline Duct / Q000098:blood supply*