Direct origin of the artery of the cervical enlargement from the left subclavian artery.
An anatomic variation is described in which the principal radiculomedullary artery to the cervical spinal cord, the artery of the cervical enlargement, arises directly from the left subclavian artery. This anomaly is important clinically because it may be necessary to catheterize this vessel selectively during spinal arteriography, and also because unintentional injection of this vessel can be associated with complications.