Variation in the origin of left vertebral artery with increase in the length of brachiacephalic trunk.

Abstract

An understanding of the variability of vertebral artery remains most important in angiography and surgical procedures where an incompatible knowledge of anatomy can lead to complications. Vertebral artery is important artery to supply posterior part of cerebral circulation. During routine dissection of cadaver for undergraduate dissection we encountered variations in relation to origin of left vertebral artery. Variant left vertebral artery was arising from arch of aorta directly. In the right side of the same cadaver length of vertebral artery was reduced due to increase in the length of brachiocephalic trunk. Keywords: Arch of aorta, Brachiocephalic trunk, Cervical vertebra, Vertebral artery