An Unusual Termination of Facial Vein and Anterior Division of Retromandibular Vein into External Jugular Vein: A Case Report

Facial vein, being the largest vein of the face forms the common facial vein after joining with the anterior division of retromandibular vein below the angle of the mandible. Usually, it drains into the internal jugular vein. During routine dissection of head and neck region of a male cadaver, aged approximately 50 years, an unusual pattern in the termination of veins on the left side of the neck was observed. The formation, course and termination of external jugular vein were normal. The anterior division of retromandibular vein joined with external jugular vein about 5 cm above the clavicle and the facial vein opened into the external jugular vein about 2.5 cm above the clavicle. In addition, there was a thin venous communication between anterior division of retromandibular vein and external jugular vein. The superficial veins of the neck are often used for cannulation; either for intravenous infusion or for central venous pressure monitoring. Furthermore, these venous segments are used as a patch for carotid endarterectomies. Hence, a thorough knowledge of the normal anatomy and their variations may be useful for performing these procedures.

Multiple vascular anomalies involving testicular, suprarenal arteries and lumbar veins.

Testicular arteries arise from the abdominal aorta and the inferior suprarenal artery from the renal artery. There are reports about variant origin and course of these arteries. Accessory testicular artery is also a common finding but its providing origin to inferior suprarenal artery is an important observation. During a routine dissection of abdomen of approximately 55-year-old male cadaver, unique vascular abnormality was observed. On the left side, a common arterial trunk originating from abdominal aorta immediately branched to give rise to superior testicular and inferior suprarenal arteries, the former after a short course hooked by the left suprarenal vein. In addition, the left suprarenal vein, second left lumbar vein, and left testicular vein joined to form a common trunk which drained into the left renal vein. A sound knowledge of vascular variations in relation to the kidney and suprarenal gland is important to surgeons dissecting the abdominal cavity.

High Origin of Ulnar Artery with Unusual Superficial Course and Abnormal Additional Branches from the Superficial Palmar Arch

Though ulnar arterial variations are rare, superficial ulnar artery (SUA) is one of its commonest variations. During routine dissection in our department, we observed a unilateral case of SUA in a 70-year-old male human cadaver. It originated from the left brachial artery in the middle of the arm, 13cm above the medial epicondyle of humerus (15cm below the outer margin of first rib). From its origin, it passed downwards in the medial part of arm and forearm in a superficial plane compared to normal ulnar artery. In the hand, the SUA anastomosed with the superficial palmar branch of the radial artery, creating the superficial palmar arch. The superficial palmar arch gave additional branches to the thumb and index finger. Brachial artery divided into the radial and common interosseous arteries in the cubital fossa. The normal ulnar artery was absent. The existence of a SUA is undeniably of interest to the clinicians as well as to the anatomists. We hereby present a case of unilateral SUA along with a brief review of the literature and analysis of its clinical significance.