Origin of vertebral artery: a study performed on 45 adult cadavers

ABSTRACT

The aim of this study was to evaluate the variability of the origin of vertebral artery after a cadaver demonstrated abnormal origins for this artery. Vertebral arteries were studied in 45 adult cadavers. Two cases [4.5%] of anomalous origins of left vertebral artery were identified. In both cases, the left vertebral artery originated from the aortic arch between left common carotid and left subclavian arteries. One of them contained, in addition, a second left vertebral artery arising from the left subclavian artery. To the best of author's knowledge, this is the first report of two left vertebral arteries in one case having separate origins and courses. Three cases [6.7%] showed variation in the point of entry in vertebral transverse processes. In all three cases, the left vertebral entered the transverse foramen of fifth cervical vertebra; in one out of the three cases, the right artery entered the transverse foramen of fifth cervical vertebra [2.2% of all cases]. The possible embryologic mechanism and clinical importance of such cases were discussed