Surgical and embryological perspective of a big loop of internal carotid artery extending laterally beyond internal jugular vein

We report a case of a large loop of the internal carotid artery in a male cadaver aged about 75  years. The common carotid artery terminated by dividing it into the external carotid artery and internal carotid arteries at the level of the upper border of the thyroid cartilage. From the level of origin, the internal carotid artery coursed upwards, backwards and laterally, and formed a large lo op behind the internal jugular vein. The variation was found on the left side of the neck and was unilateral. The uncommon looping of the internal carotid artery might result in altered blood flow to the brain and may lead to misperceptions in surgical, imaging, and invasive procedures.
Source: Surgical and Radiologic Anatomy - Category: Anatomy Source Type: research