Bilateral anatomical variation in branching pattern of external carotid artery in a male cadaver - a case report

Abstract

Developmental anomalies in the origin and branching pattern of the external carotid artery are not common. The level of the bifurcation of the common carotid artery and also the variations in the origin/branching pattern of the external carotid artery are well known and documented. During a routine dissection of middle aged male cadaver in department of Anatomy in BP Koirala Institute of Health Sciences (BPKIHS) The clinically-relevant variations to be noted were the high origin and anomalous course of the facial artery, superior thyroid artery arising as a branch of Common Carotid artery, high origin of ascending pharyngeal artery, posterior auricular artery and direct glandular branches to the Submandibular gland. Such anatomical variations of external carotid artery are important for surgeons in surgeries of head and neck region and also for radiologists in the image interpretation of the face and neck region.

Keywords

external carotid artery - anatomical variation - head and neck region - Submandibular gland