Anatomic mapping of the collateral branches of the external carotid artery with regard to daily clinical practice

• Published in: Annals of anatomy 2021-11, Vol.238, p.151789-151789, Article 151789
• Main Authors: Cobiella, Rosana, Quinones, Sara, Aragones, Paloma, León, Xavier, Abramovic, Anto, Vazquez, Teresa, Ramón Sanudo, José, Maranillo, Eva, Olewnik, Lukasz, Simon de Blas, Clara, Parkin, Ian, Konschake, Marko
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Arterial variations; External carotid artery; Interventional radiology; Vascular surgery
• ISSN: 0940-9602; 1618-0402
• DOI: 10.1016/j.aanat.2021.151789

•What is the key question? Is a new classification about the calibers and origins of the main branches of the external carotid artery possible?•What is the bottom line? The new classification allows a more precise knowledge for clinical application.•Why read on? Knowledge of these anatomical references might help clinicians in the interpretation of the carotid system. To identify the anatomical variations of the main branches of the external carotid artery (lingual, facial, occipital, ascending pharyngeal and sternocleidomastoid), giving information about the calibers and origins with the aim of creating a new classification useful in clinical practice. 193 human embalmed body-donors were dissected. The data collected were analyzed using the Chi² test. The results of previous studies were reviewed. The majority of the anterior arterial branches (superior thyroid, facial and lingual artery) were observed with an independent origin, respectively, classified as pattern I (80.83%, 156/193). In 17.62% (34/193) a linguofacial trunk, pattern II, has been observed, only in 1,04% (2/193) a thyrolingual trunk, pattern III, has been found and in one case (1/193, 0.52%) one thyrolinguofacial trunk, pattern IV, was found. Depending on the posterior branches (occipital and ascending pharyngeal), four different types could be determined: type a, the posterior arteries originated independently, type b, the posterior arteries originated in a common trunk, type c, the ascending pharyngeal artery was absent, type d, the occipital artery was absent. Anatomical variations in these arteries are relevant in daily clinical practice due to growing applications, e.g., in Interventional Radiology techniques. Knowledge of these anatomical references could help clinicians in the interpretation of the carotid system.