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Embryology and variations of the recurrent artery of Heubner

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Abstract

Purpose

The recurrent artery of Heubner (RAH) is a very fascinating artery for various reasons. The first one is its early development in the embryologic and phylogenic life. The second one is the discrepancy between its diameter and its functional importance and the last but not least reason is the many variations of origin and course of this artery.

Methods

For more than a century, numerous studies furnished important information about variations in origin, course, and parenchymal territory of the RAH. The most important anomaly concerning the RAH is the accessory middle cerebral artery and well-illustrates the complexity of its embryologic development.

Conclusion

For these reasons, authors provide a review of anatomical variations of this artery that could be encountered with a particular attention given to the history and embryological knowledge.

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Abbreviations

ACA:

Anterior cerebral artery

AccMCA:

Accessory middle cerebral artery

APS:

Anterior perforated substance

DMCA:

Duplicated middle cerebral artery

DSA:

Digital subtraction angiography

FPA:

Fronto-polar artery

ICA:

Internal carotid artery

MCA:

Middle cerebral artery

OFA:

Orbito-frontal artery

RAH:

Recurrent artery of Heubner

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Neurosurgery, Neurocenter of the Southern Switzerland, Via Tesserete 46, CH-6903, Lugano, Switzerland

    Sara Bonasia & Thomas Robert

  2. Department of Neurosurgery, Notre-Dame Hospital, Montreal, Quebec, Canada

    Michel Bojanowski

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  1. Sara Bonasia
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Correspondence to Thomas Robert.

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Bonasia, S., Bojanowski, M. & Robert, T. Embryology and variations of the recurrent artery of Heubner. Neuroradiology 62, 427–437 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00234-020-02372-5

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