A case of a single intracranial vertebral artery and cerebral infarct

The vertebral arteries are commonly affected by anatomical variation. This variation ranges from slight asymmetry in arterial diameter between the right and left sides to complete absence of a vertebral artery on one side. Asymmetry in diameter is a common observation, although complete absence of the artery is rare. Herein, we report on a 79-year-old male anatomical donor who, upon brain removal, was found to have a single intracranial vertebral artery which was the sole source of the basilar artery. During dissection of the neck, both right and left vertebral arteries were identified arising from the subclavian arteries. The vertebral arteries were dissected from the transverse foramina and followed into the skull. The right vertebral artery terminated by supplying the spinal cord, consistent with the distribution of the posterior spinal artery. Such vascular anomalies are clinically significant, as they may lead to abnormal patterns of sensory-motor deficiencies in stroke and are at risk of iatrogenic injury during surgical procedures.