European Journal of Anatomy

Official Journal of The Spanish Society of Anatomy
Cover Volume 18 - Number 1
Eur J Anat, 18 (1): 38-41 (2014)

Retro-oesophageal right subclavian artery associated with a non-recurrent laryngeal nerve - case report

Chinnawut Suriyonplengsaeng and Krai Meemon

Department of Anatomy, Faculty of Science, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand

ABSTRACT A retro-oesophageal right subclavian artery (RRSA) was detected in an 81-year-old Thai male cadaver. It originated from the proximal thoracic aorta and ascended posterior to the oesophagus continuing as the axillary artery beyond the level of the right first rib. Abnormal vascular branches and a right non-recurrent inferior laryngeal nerve were associated with the RRSA. Moreover, the ansa subclavia was prominently discernible to enclose the RRSA. The embryonic development and associated anatomical variations of the RRSA are discussed.

Keywords: Retro-oesophageal right subclavian artery, Aortic arch variation, Arteria lusoria, Brachiocephalic trunk, Right non-recurrent inferior laryngeal nerve, Ansa subclavia

European Journal of anatomy
ISSN 2340-311X (Online)