Unilateral Variation of the Left Ascending Pharyngeal Artery: A Case Report

During routine cadaveric dissection of a 77-year-old male, a series of unique arterial variations were observed within the left anterior cervical region. Firstly, the ascending pharyngeal artery (APA) was observed branching from the common carotid artery (CCA), between the internal (ICA) and external carotid (ECA) arteries. The APA continued superiorly without branching, as is typical for APA. Secondly, a common arterial trunk was observed emerging from the posterior cervical segment of the left ICA. As the common trunk continued superiorly, it bifurcated into two distinct branches. The first branch terminated as several muscular branches (MB) feeding the salpingopharyngeus and superior constrictor muscles. The second branch, a suspected neuromeningeal trunk (NMT), continued superiorly and terminated within the jugular foramen. We believe this individual presented with atypical branching of the APA system. The course of both the muscular branch and the neuromeningeal trunk were novel in that they both originated from a common trunk off the ICA. Both variations could have pathologic and clinical implications.