When a horseshoe kidney develops, the ascent of the kidney is restricted by the:: (A) Internal iliac artery, (B) External iliac artery, (C) Common iliac artery, (D) Inferior mesenteric artery
Answer is D. A horseshoe kidney develops when the inferior poles of the two kidneys fuse together as they ascend into the abdomen from the pelvis. The first anterior mid­line vessel that is encountered by the horseshoe kidney is the inferior mesenteric artery. This artery prevents the kidney from continuing its ascent.