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Three concurrent variations of the aberrant right subclavian artery, the non-recurrent laryngeal nerve and the right thoracic duct
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Abstract
We herein report a case showing three anatomical variations including the aberrant right subclavian artery (ARSA), the non-recurrent laryngeal nerve (NRLN) and the right thoracic duct in a 59-year-old male cadaver. The right subclavian artery (RSA) arose from the descending aorta next to the left subclavian artery and coursed in between the oesophagus and the thoracic vertebrae. The recurrent laryngeal nerve did not coil around the RSA but directly entered the larynx. Lastly the thoracic duct terminated into the right brachiocephalic vein. This study makes an embryological assumption that the abnormal development of the RSA had happened first and subsequently caused NRLN and the thoracic duct drainage variation. As to our knowledge, only two reports have been made previously concerning such concurrent variations. Therefore, this case report alerts anatomists and clinicians to the possibility of simultaneous occurrence of ARSA, NRLN and the right thoracic duct.
Abstract
We herein report a case showing three anatomical variations including the aberrant right subclavian artery (ARSA), the non-recurrent laryngeal nerve (NRLN) and the right thoracic duct in a 59-year-old male cadaver. The right subclavian artery (RSA) arose from the descending aorta next to the left subclavian artery and coursed in between the oesophagus and the thoracic vertebrae. The recurrent laryngeal nerve did not coil around the RSA but directly entered the larynx. Lastly the thoracic duct terminated into the right brachiocephalic vein. This study makes an embryological assumption that the abnormal development of the RSA had happened first and subsequently caused NRLN and the thoracic duct drainage variation. As to our knowledge, only two reports have been made previously concerning such concurrent variations. Therefore, this case report alerts anatomists and clinicians to the possibility of simultaneous occurrence of ARSA, NRLN and the right thoracic duct.
Keywords
aberrant right subclavian artery, dysphagia lusoria, non-recurrent laryngeal nerve, retro-oesophageal right subclavian artery, right thoracic duct
About this articleTitle
Three concurrent variations of the aberrant right subclavian artery, the non-recurrent laryngeal nerve and the right thoracic duct
Journal
Issue
Article type
Case report
Pages
560-564
Published online
2016-05-10
Page views
1656
Article views/downloads
1713
DOI
Pubmed
Bibliographic record
Folia Morphol 2016;75(4):560-564.
Keywords
aberrant right subclavian artery
dysphagia lusoria
non-recurrent laryngeal nerve
retro-oesophageal right subclavian artery
right thoracic duct
Authors
J.-Y. Lee
D.-Y. Won
S.-H. Oh
S.-Y. Hong
R.-S. Woo
T.-K. Baik
H.-I. Yoo
D.-Y. Song
