An unusual variation in the anterior communicating artery of the circle of Willis in the human brain - a case report

Abstract

This report highlights an unusual variation of Anterior communicating artery of the circle of Willis found during dissection for studying circle of Willis. The brain was carefully extracted out of the skull so that arteries forming the circle of Willis do not get torn. The circle of Willis was identified in the interpeduncular cistern. Fine dissection was done to identify any variations. In this specimen there were double anterior communicating arteries joined in the midline by a short longitudinal segment of artery. Length and external diameters of both the Anterior communicating arteries were measured using Vernier calipers. Also, a medial striate artery (recurrent artery of Heubner) was seen originating from the right anterior cerebral artery just between the junctions of the proximal and distal Anterior communicating arteries with the right Anterior cerebral artery. Knowledge of this variation is valuable to neurosurgeons in planning surgical treatment and has clinical significance in relation to stroke.

Keywords

• circulus arteriosus
• anterior communicating artery
• recurrent artery of heubner