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Updated: Sep 15, 2025

Non-invasive Parenchymal, Vascular and Metabolic High-frequency Ultrasound and Photoacoustic Rat Deep Brain Imaging
Published on: March 2, 2015
Bilateral vertebral arteries originate from the ipsilateral occipital arteries
Longjin Zi1, Bingqi Xu1, Junbiao Wang1
1Department of Anatomy, Tarim University School of Medicine, Alar, 843300, China.
Purpose:
We report a case of a 69-year-old female patient with bilateral vertebral arteries (VAs) originate from the ipsilateral occipital arteries.
Case Report:
The patient presented to our hospital with chest discomfort and shortness of breath. Computed tomography angiography (CTA) revealed an atypical VA course, where the V1 and V2 segments of both VAs were absent. As a result, the bilateral V3 segments of the VAs originated from the ipsilateral occipital artery. Additionally, there was aplasia of the transverse foramina of the cervical vertebra, absence of transverse foramina at C2 and C3, and aplasia at C1 (left side), C4 and C5.
Conclusion:
This represents the first documented case of bilateral vertebral arteries arising from the ipsilateral occipital artery. The surgical implications and embryological basis of this case are also discussed.
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