[1] Upon reaching the superior aspect of the neck of the gallbladder, it splits into superficial and deep branches.

[1] It produces 2 to 4 minor branches (known as Calot’s arteries) that supply part of the cystic duct and cervix of the gallbladder before dividing into the major superficial and deep branches at the superior aspect of the gallbladder neck: The cystic artery additionally emits fine branches that contribute to the arterial supply of the extrahepatic bile ducts.

[2] A site of origin from a more proximal or distal portion of the right hepatic artery is also considered relatively normal.

Generally, this anomalous source is the superior mesenteric artery or more rarely the abdominal aorta, producing what has been described as a "replacing right hepatic artery", passing through the hepatobiliary triangle and running posterior and parallel to the cystic duct.

This form of the cystic artery does not pass through the hepatobiliary triangle and has been found located both anteriorly and posteriorly to the common hepatic duct.