Variation of blood vessels in the cranial-cervical legion

Satoshi Furukawa, Satomu Morita, Hayato Okunaga, Lisa Wingenfeld, Katsuji Nishi

Department of Legal Medicine, Shiga University of Medical Science, ōtsu, Japan.
Institute of Legal Medicine, Munich University, Munich, Germany.

DOI: 10.4236/fmar.2013.14016                

Abstract

The blood vessels in the head and neck have several main roots for supplying blood to the brain and returning of blood to the heart. It was well known that each artery and vein in the head and neck has its variation. The variation of the vessels some times gives rise to unexpectable findings, which are not described in the textbook. In this study we like to show the morphological variations observed at routine autopsy cases and some forensic pathological findings caused by those variations.

Keywords

Variation of the Vessels; Forensic Pathology

Conflicts of Interest

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

References

[1]	Nishi, K., Nakagawa, T., Yamamoto, A., Yamasaki, S., Morimoto, A., Yamamoto, Y., Morita, S., Kobayashi, A. and Takase, I. (2005) Is differential diagnosis of hemorrhages in the face and head in postmortem and those in life possible? Japanese Journal of Forensic Medicine and Pathology, 11, 87-92 (In Japanese).
[2]	Sanchez-Hanke, M., Pueschel, K. and Leuwer, R. (2000) Anatomy of the valve system of the internal jugular vein. Laryngorhinootologie, 79, 332-336 (in Germany with English Abstract).
[3]	Morimoto, A., Takase, I., Shimizu, Y. and Nishi, K. (2009) Assessment of cervical venous blood flow and the craniocervical venous valve using ultrasound sonography. Legal Medicine (Tokyo), 11, 10-17. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.legalmed.2008.07.006
[4]	Furukawa, S., Nakagawa, T., Sakaguchi, I. and Nishi, K. (2010) The diameter of the internal jugular vein studied by autopsy. Romanian Journal of Legal Medicine, 18, 125-128.
[5]	Furukawa, S., Takase, I., Nakagawa, T., Sakaguchi, I. and Nishi, K. (2011)Autopsic investigations of the morphological variations of the internal jugular valve. Indian Journal of Forensic Medicine & Toxicology, 5, 71-73.
[6]	Furukawa, S., Wingenfeld, L., Takaya, A., Nakagawa, T., Sakaguchi, I. and Nishi, K. (2012) Morphological variation of the carotid artery bifurcation level. Forensic Research. http://www.omicsonline.org/scientific-reports/srep135.php
[7]	Sanchez-Hanke, M., Pueschel, K. and Leuwer, R. (2000) Anatomy of the valve system of the internal jugular vein. Laryngorhinootologie, 79, 332-336 (in Germany with English Abstract).
[8]	Fisher, J., Vaghaiwalla, F., Tsitlik, J., Levin, H., Brinker, J., Weisfeldt, M. and Yin, F. (1982) Determination and clinical significance if jugular venous valve competence. Circulation, 65, 188-196. http://dx.doi.org/10.1161/01.CIR.65.1.188
[9]	Benter, T., Teichgraeber, U.K.M., Kluehs, L., Papadopoulos, S., Koehne, C.H., Felix, R. and Doerken, B. (2001) Anatomical variations in the internal jugular veins of cancer patients affecting central venous access. Ultraschall in der Medizin, 22, 23-26. http://dx.doi.org/10.1055/s-2001-11243
[10]	Shoja, M.M., Tubbs, R.S., Khaki, A.A., Shokouhi, G., Farahani, R.M. and Moein, A. (2006) A rare variation of the vertebral artery. Folia Morphologica, 65, 167-170.
[11]	Bruneau, M., Cornelius, J.F., Marneffe, V., Triffaux, M. and George, B. (2006) Anatomical variations of the V2 segment of the vertebral artery. Neurosurgery, 59, s20-s24. http://dx.doi.org/10.1227/01.NEU.0000219931.64378.B5
[12]	Yamasaki, S., Takase, I., Takata, N. and Nishi, K. (2009) Measurement of force to obstruct the cervical arteries and distribution of tension exerted on a ligature in hanging. Legal Medicine (Tokyo), 11, 175-180. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.legalmed.2009.03.007
[13]	Vitek, J.J. and Reaves, P. (1973) Thoracic bifurcation of the common carotid artery. Neuroradiology, 5, 133-139. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/BF00341527
[14]	Doberentz, E., Schyma, C. and Madae, B. (2012) Histological examination of the carotid bifurcation in case of violence against the neck. Forensic Science International, 216, 135-140. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.forsciint.2011.09.009
[15]	Scharg, B., Mangin, P., Vaucher, P. and Bollmann, M.D. (2012) Death caused by cardioinhibitory reflex. What experts believe. The American Journal of Forensic Medicine and Pathology, 33, 8-12. http://dx.doi.org/10.1097/PAF.0b013e3181db7efd
[16]	Osborn, A.G. (1999) Diagnostic cerebral angiography. 2nd Edition, Lippicott Williams & Wilkins, Philadelphia, 62-63.
[17]	Anangwe, D., Saidi, H., Ogengo, J. and Awori, K.O. (2008) Anatomical variation of the carotid arteries in adult Kenians. East African Medical Journal, 85, 244-247. http://dx.doi.org/10.4314/eamj.v85i5.9619
[18]	Al-Rafiah, A., El-Haggay, A.A., Aal, I.H.A. and Zaki, A.I. (2011) Anatomical study of the carotid bifurcation and origin variations of the ascending pharyngeal and superior thyroid arteries. Folia Morphologica, 70, 47-55.
[19]	Koch, S., Nelson, D., Rundek, T., Mandrekar, J. and Rabinstein, A. (2009) Raceethnic variation in carotid bifurcation geometry. Journal of Stroke and Cerebrovascular Diseases, 18, 349-358. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jstrokecerebrovasdis.2009.01.002
[20]	Dewhurst, K. (1972) Some letters to Dr. Thomas Willis. Medical History, 16, 63-76. http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/S0025727300017269