Abnormal origin of the left vertebral artery: A case study

In this paper we are presenting an anatomical variation of the left vertebral artery originating from the arch of aorta. This variation was found in one of the male cadaver at the anatomy department of Yenepoya medical college during routine dissection for UG students teaching programme. In this case we found four branches arising from arch of aorta. First branch on the right side was brachiocephalic trunk with two branches; right common carotid artery and right subclavian artery. The second branch was the left common carotid artery, the third branch was the left vertebral artery and fourth one was left subclavian arteries. We traced the branches and confirmed them by their course.