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Right vertebral artery (cervical part)

The right vertebral artery (cervical part) is the proximal segment of the vertebral artery that arises from the subclavian artery and ascends through the transverse foramina of the cervical vertebrae (C6 to C1). It is a paired artery that, along with the left vertebral artery, supplies the posterior circulation of the brain, including the brainstem, cerebellum, and posterior cerebral hemispheres.

The cervical segment is often referred to as V2, extending from its entrance at C6 transverse foramen to its exit at C1 transverse foramen. The artery is typically tortuous, following the alignment of the transverse foramina, and lies posterolateral to the cervical vertebral bodies, anterior to the cervical nerve roots, and deep to the longus colli and scalene muscles. This segment is clinically significant for cervical spine surgery, trauma, arterial dissection, and Doppler ultrasonography.

Function

  • Supplies posterior brain circulation, including brainstem and cerebellum

  • Contributes to the basilar artery formation

  • Provides perforating branches to cervical spinal cord

  • Maintains cerebral perfusion in case of carotid artery compromise

Synonyms

  • Cervical segment of right vertebral artery

  • V2 segment of vertebral artery

  • Right VA (cervical part)

MRI Appearance

T1-weighted images:

  • The artery appears as a round or oval structure with intermediate signal intensity within the transverse foramina

  • Flow void may be seen if blood flow is rapid, producing hypointense signal along the lumen

  • Vessel wall is thin; pathology like dissection or atherosclerosis may appear as eccentric wall thickening or intramural hematoma

T2-weighted images:

  • Lumen may show flow void (signal loss) due to high-velocity blood flow

  • Surrounding fat and soft tissue are intermediate to high signal, providing contrast for vessel localization

  • Useful for detecting perivascular edema, stenosis, or dissection

STIR (Short Tau Inversion Recovery):

  • Suppresses fat signal, allowing better visualization of perivascular edema or hematoma

  • Normal artery lumen remains low signal, while pathological changes appear hyperintense

T1 Post-Contrast (Gadolinium-enhanced):

  • The lumen enhances brightly, clearly delineating the artery

  • Wall enhancement may indicate inflammation, vasculitis, or intramural pathology

  • Contrast helps identify stenosis, aneurysm, or dissection flap

CT Appearance:

  • On CT angiography, the right vertebral artery is hyperdense relative to surrounding soft tissues after contrast injection

  • Follows the transverse foramina of C6 to C1, showing the characteristic tortuous cervical course

  • Excellent for detecting occlusion, stenosis, dissection, aneurysm, or bony compression

  • Non-contrast CT shows the artery only indirectly as a soft tissue density within the transverse foramina

MRI images

Right vertebral artery (cervical part) mri coronal image -img-00000-00000

MRI images

Right vertebral artery (cervical part) mri axial image