title: Unusual origin of the ansa cervicalis observed during carotid endarterectomy.
abstract: The surgical approach of the carotid artery for carotid endarterectomy demands knowledge of normal anatomy and anatomic variation. During carotid endarterectomy, a rare anatomic variant of the origin of the upper root of the ansa cervicalis was found. Contrary to commonly found anatomy, no upper root of the ansa cervicalis originating from the hypoglossal nerve was found. Instead, what seemed to be the ansa cervicalis originated from the vagus nerve and passed over the carotid bifurcation, branching to the infrahyoid muscles. Transection of this ansa cervicalis, for the purpose of good exposure, had no functional or cosmetic consequences.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Subdivision Vascular Surgery, VieCuri Medical Center, Venlo, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Ryan E
authors.initials: RE
authors.lastname: Accord
authors.forename: Phillipe
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Reyntjens
authors.forename: Martine
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Samyn
authors.forename: Johannes
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Reuwer
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D016893:Carotid Stenosis / Q000601:surgery*; D016894:Endarterectomy, Carotid; D006801:Humans; D007002:Hypoglossal Nerve / Q000002:abnormalities* / Q000601:surgery; D033162:Incidental Findings; D007432:Intraoperative Period; D008297:Male; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014630:Vagus Nerve / Q000002:abnormalities* / Q000601:surgery