Aberrant origin of left vertebral artery: A molecular embryological perspective

Background: Variation in the origin and course of the left vertebral artery have surgical and clinical implications in the management of medical conditions. Here, we show variant origin of the left vertebral artery in cadavers and propose potential causes for future molecular investigations. Method:...

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Main Authors: Connor Lee McCoy, John Joseph Cichewicz, Rainevan Miller, Soumya Sharma, Adel Maklad, Eistine Boateng
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2025-09-01
Series:Translational Research in Anatomy
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Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2214854X25000408
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author Connor Lee McCoy
John Joseph Cichewicz
Rainevan Miller
Soumya Sharma
Adel Maklad
Eistine Boateng
author_facet Connor Lee McCoy
John Joseph Cichewicz
Rainevan Miller
Soumya Sharma
Adel Maklad
Eistine Boateng
author_sort Connor Lee McCoy
collection DOAJ
description Background: Variation in the origin and course of the left vertebral artery have surgical and clinical implications in the management of medical conditions. Here, we show variant origin of the left vertebral artery in cadavers and propose potential causes for future molecular investigations. Method: The aortic arches of 32 donors were dissected and observed for anomalous origin of the left vertebral artery in the cadaver laboratory at the University of Toledo, Ohio, USA. Results: Out of 32 donors dissected during laboratory sessions, we observed two cases of the left vertebral artery originating directly from the aortic arch, medial to the left subclavian artery. Conclusion: The study aims to stimulate discussions and future investigations into the molecular embryology of vasculogenesis concomitant with preconceptional and in utero exposures to understand the underlying causes of aberrant origin of the left vertebral artery. Additionally, we speculate that parental and embryonic environmental exposures influence the epigenetic landscape in germ cells and early embryos, thereby contributing to the programming of variant origin of blood vessels.
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issn 2214-854X
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series Translational Research in Anatomy
spelling doaj-art-16315ceddecb46288fef8e4e69d631bf2025-08-21T04:16:58ZengElsevierTranslational Research in Anatomy2214-854X2025-09-014010042110.1016/j.tria.2025.100421Aberrant origin of left vertebral artery: A molecular embryological perspectiveConnor Lee McCoy0John Joseph Cichewicz1Rainevan Miller2Soumya Sharma3Adel Maklad4Eistine Boateng5College of Medicine and Life Sciences, University of Toledo, 3000 Arlington Ave, Toledo, OH, 43614, USACollege of Medicine and Life Sciences, University of Toledo, 3000 Arlington Ave, Toledo, OH, 43614, USACollege of Medicine and Life Sciences, University of Toledo, 3000 Arlington Ave, Toledo, OH, 43614, USA; Corresponding author.College of Medicine and Life Sciences, University of Toledo, 3000 Arlington Ave, Toledo, OH, 43614, USACollege of Medicine and Life Sciences, University of Toledo, 3000 Arlington Ave, Toledo, OH, 43614, USA; Department of Medical Education, University of Toledo, 3000 Arlington Ave, Toledo, OH, 43614, USACollege of Medicine and Life Sciences, University of Toledo, 3000 Arlington Ave, Toledo, OH, 43614, USA; Department of Medical Education, University of Toledo, 3000 Arlington Ave, Toledo, OH, 43614, USABackground: Variation in the origin and course of the left vertebral artery have surgical and clinical implications in the management of medical conditions. Here, we show variant origin of the left vertebral artery in cadavers and propose potential causes for future molecular investigations. Method: The aortic arches of 32 donors were dissected and observed for anomalous origin of the left vertebral artery in the cadaver laboratory at the University of Toledo, Ohio, USA. Results: Out of 32 donors dissected during laboratory sessions, we observed two cases of the left vertebral artery originating directly from the aortic arch, medial to the left subclavian artery. Conclusion: The study aims to stimulate discussions and future investigations into the molecular embryology of vasculogenesis concomitant with preconceptional and in utero exposures to understand the underlying causes of aberrant origin of the left vertebral artery. Additionally, we speculate that parental and embryonic environmental exposures influence the epigenetic landscape in germ cells and early embryos, thereby contributing to the programming of variant origin of blood vessels.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2214854X25000408Left Vertebral Artery (LVA)Aortic archLeft Subclavian Artery (LSA)EpigeneticsAtherosclerosis
spellingShingle Connor Lee McCoy
John Joseph Cichewicz
Rainevan Miller
Soumya Sharma
Adel Maklad
Eistine Boateng
Aberrant origin of left vertebral artery: A molecular embryological perspective
Translational Research in Anatomy
Left Vertebral Artery (LVA)
Aortic arch
Left Subclavian Artery (LSA)
Epigenetics
Atherosclerosis
title Aberrant origin of left vertebral artery: A molecular embryological perspective
title_full Aberrant origin of left vertebral artery: A molecular embryological perspective
title_fullStr Aberrant origin of left vertebral artery: A molecular embryological perspective
title_full_unstemmed Aberrant origin of left vertebral artery: A molecular embryological perspective
title_short Aberrant origin of left vertebral artery: A molecular embryological perspective
title_sort aberrant origin of left vertebral artery a molecular embryological perspective
topic Left Vertebral Artery (LVA)
Aortic arch
Left Subclavian Artery (LSA)
Epigenetics
Atherosclerosis
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2214854X25000408
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AT soumyasharma aberrantoriginofleftvertebralarteryamolecularembryologicalperspective
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