A 3-month-old baby is recognized to have a horseshoe kidney. In this case, which of the following structure is known to prevent this abnormally shaped kidney from occupying the correct position?
A- Abdominal aorta
B- Celiac trunk
C- Inferior mesenteric artery
D-Superior mesenteric artery
Answer
A horseshoe kidney is a resultant of a condition where the inferior poles of the two kidneys become fused together during development. When the kidneys start to rise from the pelvis, they will encounter the inferior mesenteric artery and thus are unable to rise to their normal locations in the abdomen.
The correct answer is C