Surgical anatomy of the upper vertebral artery.

A surgical approach to the upper vertebral artery between C1 and C2 is described. Following dissection of the posterior border of the sternocleidomastoid and the anterior border of the splenius capitis the two muscles are held apart and the levator scapulae is transected at its origin from C1. The cranial end of the vertebral artery can now be connected with the common carotid or external carotid arteries.