Anomalous Origin of Left Vertebral Artery from Aortic Arch

Abstract

The study reports the abnormal origin of the left vertebral artery from the aortic arch during routine dissection of a male cadaver aged about 40 years. The right vertebral artery originated from the subclavian artery and had normal course and branches. The left vertebral artery originated from the aortic arch between the origin of left subclavian and left common carotid artery. Thus, the aortic arch had four branches: left subclavian artery, left vertebral artery, left common carotid artery and brachiocephalic trunk. The diameter of the vertebral artery was smaller than the other branches of the aortic arch. The left vertebral artery had normal course upwards towards the foramen transversarium of the 6 th cervical vertebra. The length of the prevertebral segment of the left vertebral artery was about 9 cm. Since the vertebral artery is important for the posterior cerebral circulation, the anatomic and morphologic variations of the left vertebral artery are significant for diagnostic and surgical procedures in the head and neck region. It is of clinical importance to know the origin and course of prevertebral segment of the vertebral artery in detail and being aware of the possible variations.