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Persistent hypoglossal artery with hypoplasia of the vertebral and posterior communicating arteries

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Abstract

We observed a rare case of the right persistent hypoglossal artery (PHA) in the posterior cranial fossa of a deceased 74-year-old Japanese man who did not have any clinical manifestations related to this anomaly when alive. The large-sized PHA originating from the cervical internal carotid artery passed through the hypoglossal canal together with the hypoglossal nerve and reached the posterior cranial fossa to anastomose the basilar artery. In addition, the ipsilateral vertebral artery and bilateral posterior communicating arteries were hypoplastic. Here, we discuss the developmental mechanisms underlying the formation of the PHA and the spectrum of diseases related to its presence.

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Abbreviations

XII:

Hypoglossal nerve

AICA:

Anterior inferior cerebellar artery

BA:

Basilar artery

HC:

Hypoglossal canal

ICA:

Cervical internal carotid artery

PCoA:

Posterior communicating artery

PHA:

Persistent hypoglossal artery

PICA:

Posterior inferior cerebellar artery

SA:

Subclavian artery

SIA:

Supreme intercostal artery

VA:

Vertebral arteries

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Oral Function and Anatomy, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, 2-5-1 Shikata-cho, Okayama, 700-8525, Japan

    Ryuji Terayama, Yuka Toyokuni, Shinsuke Nakagawa, Kazuki Nakatsuji, Hitomi Nakama, Tomoichiro Yamaai, Hiroyuki Ichikawa & Tomosada Sugimoto

Authors
  1. Ryuji Terayama
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  2. Yuka Toyokuni
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  3. Shinsuke Nakagawa
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  4. Kazuki Nakatsuji
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  5. Hitomi Nakama
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  6. Tomoichiro Yamaai
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  7. Hiroyuki Ichikawa
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  8. Tomosada Sugimoto
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Correspondence to Ryuji Terayama.

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Terayama, R., Toyokuni, Y., Nakagawa, S. et al. Persistent hypoglossal artery with hypoplasia of the vertebral and posterior communicating arteries. Anat Sci Int 86, 58–61 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12565-009-0062-x

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12565-009-0062-x

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