Anat Cell Biol.  2025 Mar;58(1):122-126. 10.5115/acb.24.257.

A case of occipital artery originating from the vertebral artery

• Tudose RC
• Toader C
• Rusu MC

• KMID: 2565963
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.5115/acb.24.257

Abstract

Anomalies of the vertebral artery (VA) and its branches are rare but critical in neurovascular procedures. In a 38-yearold female, digital subtraction angiography revealed an anomalous origin of the occipital artery (OA) from the V3 segment of the left VA, with a tortuous course supplying the neck and scalp. Below the OA’s origin, the suboccipital artery of Salmon arose, bifurcating into two branches. Additionally, an extradural posterior inferior cerebellar artery originated from the same segment, entering the skull via the foramen magnum and dividing into medial and lateral trunks. This unique coexistence of vascular variants highlights the need for detailed preoperative vascular outlining to minimize intraoperative risks.

Keyword

Digital subtraction angiography; Vertebral artery; External carotid artery

Figure

• 

  Fig. 1 Left vertebral artery (VA) angiogram. (A) Sagittal view. (B) Coronal view. Occipital artery (OA) (red) and posterior inferior cerebellar artery (PICA) (blue) are seen superposed in (A), with the OA positioned laterally to the PICA. 1, V2 segment of the VA; 2, V3 segment of the VA; 3, V4 segment of the VA; 4, basilar artery; 5, posterior cerebral arteries; 6, radiculomuscular branch of the OA; 7, suboccipital artery of Salmon; 8, superficial descending branch of the OA; 9, superficial collateral branch of the OA; 10, auricular branch of the OA.

• 

  Fig. 2 Right external carotid artery (ECA) angiogram (sagittal view). Occipital artery (OA) (red) has a typical origin from the posterior aspect of the ECA. 1, ECA; 2, facial artery; 3, inferior alveolar artery; 4, maxillary artery; 5, posterior superior alveolar artery; 6, middle meningeal artery (MMA); 7, anterior (frontal) branch of the MMA; 8, anterior (frontal) branch and posterior (parietal) branch of the superficial temporal artery; 9, posterior (parietal) branch of the MMA; 10, superficial temporal artery; 11, mastoid branch of the OA; 12, superficial descending branch of the OA; 13, superficial collateral branch of the OA.

Reference

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