ANOMALOUS ORIGIN OF LEFT VERTEBRAL ARTERY

Background: To document the unusual origin of left vertebral artery from the arch of aorta and to discuss the embryological basis and clinico-anatomical correlation of such variation. METHOD: This finding was seen after thorough and meticulous dissection of the thorax in a 58 year old male cadaver in the department of anatomy, R.G.Kar Medical College. RESULT: There was anomalous origin of the left vertebral artery from the arch of aorta whereas the right vertebral artery took its normal origin from right subclavian artery. CONCLUSION: This anatomical variation can be explained in the light of embryological development .In addition knowledge of such variation is important for carrying out surgical procedures.