An unusual variation of vertebral artery

Vertebral artery is the first branch of subclavian artery which joins other sided vertebral artery to form basilar artery and becomes important source of blood supply to the brain.
The complex embryological development of vascular system often results in myriad of clinically relevant variations. Variation in the origin of right vertebral artery was found in 70-year-old female embalmed cadaver during routine dissection of neck in the department of anatomy. It was originating from right common carotid artery and its further course was as usual. Origin and course of left vertebral artery showed no variation.
Such type of variation is encountered very rarely. Awareness of such variations in origin is surgically important and clinically significant during diagnostic and interventional angiographic procedures.