Journal of Forensic Medicine and Toxicology

Anatomical knowledge about the vertebral artery particularly its absence is important for the surgeons to ligate the vertebral as well as common carotid artery to avoid neurological deficit due to vertebro basilar ischemia and also important for the autopsy surgeons while investigating cases of sudden deaths, post-operative death, etc.

During routine dissection in Anatomy department, absence of vertebral artery on the left side of the male adult cadaver was noted. This rare case is presented and discussed here.