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Abnormal origin of internal thoracic and vertebral arteries
Author(s) -
Vorster W.,
du Plooy P.T.,
Meiring J.H.
Publication year - 1998
Publication title -
clinical anatomy
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.667
H-Index - 71
eISSN - 1098-2353
pISSN - 0897-3806
DOI - 10.1002/(sici)1098-2353(1998)11:1<33::aid-ca5>3.0.co;2-t
Subject(s) - medicine , cadaver , anatomy , internal thoracic artery , subclavian artery , vertebral artery , internal carotid artery , aortic arch , thoracic aorta , radiology , artery , aorta , surgery , bypass grafting
The aim of this study was to evaluate the variability of the origin of the internal thoracic and vertebral arteries after a cadaver demonstrated abnormal origins for both vessels. The arteries were studied in 60 adult cadavers and measurements taken to adjacent structures. In one cadaver the right internal thoracic artery originated from the third part of the subclavian artery (one of 120 arteries; 0.83%). The same cadaver presented with the left vertebral artery originating directly from the aortic arch between the left common carotid and left subclavian arteries. Two other cadavers also presented with abnormal vertebral arteries, making it three of 60 left vertebral arteries (5%). These results are comparable to the established range in the literature. The internal thoracic artery is used for revascularization in coronary artery diseases and as this area is also used for subclavian vein catheterization, it is important to be aware of this rare variation concerning the internal thoracic artery. This study reports an important variation in the origins of the internal thoracic and vertebral artery in a singular cadaver. Clin. Anat. 11:33–37, 1998. © 1998 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.