A study of the deep ascending cervical artery (new definition) and its relation to some other arteries in the human cervical region

Abstract

A minute study of cervical arteries in 67 Japanese bodies, totalling 130 sides, revealed that a small twig arose from the second part of the subclavian artery and ascended under the scalenus anterior muscle, sending spinal branches and muscular branches to scalenus muscles in 77% of cases. Judging from its course and distribution, it is reasonable to consider that this ascending twig is a precostal anastomosis of cervical intersegmental arteries and has the same morphological significance as the ascending cervical artery. The authors therefore propose the name "deep ascending cervical artery (Ca-p)" for this twig. The Ca-p may also be the source artery of the costocervical trunk or the transverse cervical artery from the second part of the subclavian artery. In 22 cases the deep cervical artery or the costocervical trunk from the first part had disappeared and was compensated by a branch from the Ca-p. On the other hand, there were some cases in which the lateral branch to the scalenus medius muscle from the Ca-p had developed into the transverse cervical artery or its deep branch. This artery arose from the second part of the subclavian artery and ran laterally under the scalenus anterior muscle, passing through the brachial plexus. In the remaining 23% of cases a typical Ca-p did not exist, but a similar branch from the costocervical trunk was found instead. Since this branch has the same course and distribution as the Ca-p, we have called it the costocervical type of Ca-p (Ca-pc).