Direct Aortic Arch Origin of the Left Vertebral Artery: A Case Report

Vertebral arteries (VAs) typically arise from the subclavian arteries; however, variations in their origin occur and have important clinical implications.During a routine cadaveric dissection, the left VA (LVA) was found to originate directly from the aortic arch (AA) between the left common carotid and left subclavian arteries.This variation may result from persistence of embryologic intersegmental arteries and can influence surgical planning, angiographic interpretation, and risk of cerebrovascular pathology.Recognition of this variant is important for surgeons, radiologists, and clinicians.