(1) Background: The anatomical variations of neurovascular canals that are encountered in oral surgery are often overlooked by anatomy textbooks or provided with insufficient information. The aim of this study is to analyze the most common variations, describing their morphology, prevalence and clinical implications. (2) Methods: A review of published literature from the 20th century onwards was performed using the PubMed electronic database as well as anatomical textbooks. The variations being investigated were: retromolar canal (RMC) and foramen (RMF), accessory mental foramen (AMF), midline (MLF) and lateral (MLF) lingual foramina and canalis sinuosus (CS). (3) Results: Anatomical variants of neurovascular canals and foramina have a significant incidence and important clinical implications in the most common oral surgery procedures such as third molar extraction, bone harvesting and implantology. (4) Conclusions: Knowledge of these variables is highly important both for students to have a more accurate anatomical awareness and for professional surgeons to be able to provide better diagnoses and prevent complications during oral surgery techniques.

Background: The aim of this study was to identify variations in the origins of the anterior branches of the external carotid artery (ECA) and to propose an update of the current classification. Methods: The study included 100 carotids arteries from fifty human donors. Classification of anterior branches of external carotid artery was performed according to Vaz’quez et al. (2009). Results: The configuration origins of anterior branches were found as follows: Type I, 82%; Type II, 1%; Type III, 16%. No Type IV was observed. The study identified seven subgroups of anterior branch variations in the external carotid artery. The most frequently observed variations were Subtype Ia in 40% (n = 20) of cases on the right side and Subtype Ib in 38% (n = 19) on the left side. In addition, a rare and previously unclassified configuration was observed in a 72-year-old male donor, where the carotid artery was pentafurcated on the left side. Conclusions: In conclusion, the presence of anatomical variants not previously included in the anterior external carotid artery branching classifications supports the consideration of a revision to the present classification system.

Detailed knowledge about the normal anatomy and its variations is a necessity in good clinical and surgical practice. The case we are reporting here shows a rare configuration origin of the superior thyroid, lingual and facial arteries arising directly from a pentafurcated common carotid artery. A fresh frozen latex-infiltrated cadaver was dissected. The superior thyroid artery, the lingual artery and the facial artery were found to be directly detached from the common carotid artery as terminations of the five terminal rami variations. The current classifications of anatomical variants are discussed in detail in relation to this case.