High Ascending Vertebral Artery: Case Report

Abstract

We noted that right vertebral artery of a 59-year-old male cadaver run towards the skull base and entered transverse foramen of fourth cervical vertebra (C4) after it branches from right subclavian artery. The length of the vertebral artery between its origin and the entrance point to the C4 (first part of the artery, V1 segment) was 11.8 cm and showed no tortuosity. The left vertebral artery was found normal. The frequency of this variation was reported between 0.5% and 2.08% in the literature. This type of variation of the vertebral artery may cause iatrogenic injuries during surgery of this region, especially when performing anterior and lateral approaches, and may cause difficulties in interpretation of the radiologic images, so it should be kept in mind.