Nicolás Ernesto Ottone; Leandro Casola; Vanina Cirigliano; Lucero Oloriz; Esteban Daniel Blasi; Carlos Daniel Medan & Rubén Daniel Algieri

Anomalies arising in the embryological development of the aortic arch and its branches are essencial in the emergence of variations in the origin and course of supra aortic vessels. Classically, 95% of cases, the aortic arch gives rise to the brachiocephalic artery, left common carotid artery and left subclavian artery. While the left vertebral artery arises normally from the left subclavian artery. In this presentation we describe two cases of the left vertebral artery being born of the aortic arch. The importance of anatomical knowledge of this arterial variety is fundamental for base neck and aortic arch surgery, in cervicothoracic trauma that compromises the vascular elements and in endovascular procedures in the region.

KEY WORDS: Left vertebral artery; Aortic arch; Thorax.

OTTONE, N. E.; CASOLA, L.; CIRIGLIANO, V.; OLORIZ, L.; BLASI, E. B.; MEDAN, C. D. & ALGIERI, R. D. Two cases of left vertebral artery emerging from a trunk in common with the left subclavian artery from the aortic arch. Int. J. Morphol., 31(2):646- 649, 2013.