Persistent hypoglossal artery

Last revised by Ashesh Ishwarlal Ranchod on 16 Jun 2023

A persistent hypoglossal artery is one of the persistent carotid-vertebrobasilar anastomoses. It is second in frequency to the trigeminal artery which is present approximately six times as often. 

It arises from the distal cervical ICA segment, usually between the C1 and C3 vertebral level. After passing through an enlarged hypoglossal canal, it joins the basilar artery inferiorly. If large, the ipsilateral vertebral artery and PCOM are often hypoplastic or absent. There is an association with concurrent aneurysms. 

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