Abstract
A middle thymothyroid artery, arising from the anterior aspect of the right common carotid as an anomalous branch was observed in a 71-year-old Japanese male cadaver. It soon divided into a thyroidea ima artery, a branch supplying the sternoclavicular joints, and a thymic branch. In addition, twigs from these three main branches supplied the sternohyoid and sternothyroid muscles, right inferior parathyroid gland and also some deep cervical lymph nodes. Anatomical features, clinical implications and a brief account of the developmental aspects of this rare variation are included in this report.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Adachi B (1928) Das Arteriensystem der Japaner, Bd. 1. Maruzen, Kyoto
Bergman RA, Thompson SA, Afifi AK, Saadeh FA (1988) Compendium of human anatomic variation. Urban and Schwarzenberg, Baltimore/Munich
Cahill R (1998) Anomalous thymic branch of the right common carotid artery. Clin Anat 11:346–348
Chen CJ, Wang LJ, Wong YC (1998) Abnormal origin of the vertebral artery from the common carotid artery. Am J Neuroradiol 19:1414–1416
Lemaire V, Jacquemin G, Medot M, Fissette J (2001) Thyrolingual trunk arising from the common carotid artery: a case report. Surg Radiol Anat 23:135–137
Marino VD, Argeme M, Ch Brunet, Coppens R, Bonnoit J (1987) Macroscopic study of the adult thymus. Surg Radiol Anat 9:51–62
Niida S, Yamasaki M (1984) The anatomical consideration of the double Thyroid ima artery (in Japanese). Acta Anat Nippon 59:9–17
Ord RA, Ward-Booth RP (1986) Anomalies of the common carotid artery: a rare complication of radical neck dissection. Br J Oral Maxillofac Surg 24:405–409
Simic P, Borovecki F, Jelic M, Jelic M, Vinter I (2004) Anomalous branch of the left common carotid artery. Clin Anat 17:409–412
Standring S (2005) Gray’s anatomy: the anatomical basis of clinical practice. Elsevier Churchill Livingstone, London
Tan WS, Spigos DG (1979) Right vertebral artery originating from the right common carotid. Radiologe 19:155–156
Yamasaki M (1989a) Studies on the thyroid and thymic arteries of Japanese adults and fetuses. Anat Anz 169:213–221
Yamasaki M (1989b) On the A. thymica suprema, a provisionally named branch of the superior thyroid artery in the human. Anat Anz 168:329–335
Acknowledgments
The authors would like to thank the academic and non-academic staff of the first department of Anatomy of the Niigata University for their Support throughout.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Banneheka, S., Chiba, S., Fukazawa, M. et al. Middle thymothyroid artery arising from the common carotid artery: case report of a rare variation. Anat Sci Int 85, 241–244 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12565-009-0055-9
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12565-009-0055-9