Bilateral High Trifurcation of the Common Carotid Artery and Variable Emergence of the Lower Branches of the External Carotid Artery: A Cadaveric Case Report

Trifurcation of the common carotid artery in the neck region is a rare anatomical variation. In the present study, we reported a rare case having the combination of anomalies of the bilateral high common carotid arteries trifurcation and variable origin of lower branches of the external carotid artery during routine dissection of the head and neck region of a 60-year-old male cadaver in the Department of Anatomy. Both on the left and right sides of the neck region, the common carotid artery gave off three terminal branches: internal carotid artery, external carotid artery, and ascending pharyngeal arteries. Further, we also observed the presence of bilateral linguofacial trunks (common arterial trunks) that emerged from the external carotid arteries and also the left superior thyroid artery that originated directly from the left common carotid artery. Even though the embryogenesis of the variable origin of such arterial trunks is not apparent, it is very indispensable to have sound knowledge and better comprehension of the accurate anatomical architecture of such a rare combination of carotid arterial system anomalies for correct interpretation of the vascular imaging that pave the pathway for successful execution of surgical interventions in the neck region because of its utmost clinical implication.