Basilar artery
Encyclopedia
In human anatomy
, the basilar artery is one of the arteries
that supplies the brain
with oxygen-rich blood.
The two vertebral arteries and the basilar artery are sometimes together called the vertebrobasilar system, which supplies blood to the posterior part of circle of Willis
and anastomoses with blood supplied to the anterior part of the circle of Willis from the carotid arteries.
at the junction between the medulla oblongata
and the pons
.
It ascends in the central gutter (sulcus basilaris) inferior to the pons
and divides into the posterior cerebral arteries
and the superior cerebellar artery
just inferior to the pituitary stalk.
From the basilar artery arises the anterior inferior cerebellar artery
(supplying the superior and inferior aspects of the cerebellum
), as well as smaller branches for the supply of the pons (the pontine branches).
Human anatomy
Human anatomy is primarily the scientific study of the morphology of the human body. Anatomy is subdivided into gross anatomy and microscopic anatomy. Gross anatomy is the study of anatomical structures that can be seen by the naked eye...
, the basilar artery is one of the arteries
Artery
Arteries are blood vessels that carry blood away from the heart. This blood is normally oxygenated, exceptions made for the pulmonary and umbilical arteries....
that supplies the brain
Brain
The brain is the center of the nervous system in all vertebrate and most invertebrate animals—only a few primitive invertebrates such as sponges, jellyfish, sea squirts and starfishes do not have one. It is located in the head, usually close to primary sensory apparatus such as vision, hearing,...
with oxygen-rich blood.
The two vertebral arteries and the basilar artery are sometimes together called the vertebrobasilar system, which supplies blood to the posterior part of circle of Willis
Circle of Willis
The Circle of Willis is a circle of arteries that supply blood to the brain...
and anastomoses with blood supplied to the anterior part of the circle of Willis from the carotid arteries.
Course
It arises from the confluence of the two vertebral arteriesVertebral artery
The vertebral arteries are major arteries of the neck. They branch from the subclavian arteries and merge to form the single midline basilar artery in a complex called the vertebrobasilar system, which supplies blood to the posterior part of the circle of Willis and thus significant portions of the...
at the junction between the medulla oblongata
Medulla oblongata
The medulla oblongata is the lower half of the brainstem. In discussions of neurology and similar contexts where no ambiguity will result, it is often referred to as simply the medulla...
and the pons
Pons
The pons is a structure located on the brain stem, named after the Latin word for "bridge" or the 16th-century Italian anatomist and surgeon Costanzo Varolio . It is superior to the medulla oblongata, inferior to the midbrain, and ventral to the cerebellum. In humans and other bipeds this means it...
.
It ascends in the central gutter (sulcus basilaris) inferior to the pons
Pons
The pons is a structure located on the brain stem, named after the Latin word for "bridge" or the 16th-century Italian anatomist and surgeon Costanzo Varolio . It is superior to the medulla oblongata, inferior to the midbrain, and ventral to the cerebellum. In humans and other bipeds this means it...
and divides into the posterior cerebral arteries
Posterior cerebral artery
-External links: - Posterior Cerebral Artery Stroke* at strokecenter.org* at State University of New York Upstate Medical University* at psyweb.com* at neuropat.dote.hu...
and the superior cerebellar artery
Superior cerebellar artery
The superior cerebellar artery arises near the termination of the basilar artery.It passes lateralward, immediately below the oculomotor nerve, which separates it from the posterior cerebral artery, winds around the cerebral peduncle, close to the trochlear nerve, and, arriving at the upper...
just inferior to the pituitary stalk.
From the basilar artery arises the anterior inferior cerebellar artery
Anterior inferior cerebellar artery
The anterior inferior cerebellar artery arises from the basilar artery at the level of the junction between the medulla oblongata and the pons in the brainstem. It passes backward to be distributed to the anterior part of the undersurface of the cerebellum, anastomosing with the posterior inferior...
(supplying the superior and inferior aspects of the cerebellum
Cerebellum
The cerebellum is a region of the brain that plays an important role in motor control. It may also be involved in some cognitive functions such as attention and language, and in regulating fear and pleasure responses, but its movement-related functions are the most solidly established...
), as well as smaller branches for the supply of the pons (the pontine branches).
Additional images
| The internal carotid & vertebral arteries (Right side view). |  |
External links
- Diagram at merck.com - "Cranial Fossae: Arteries, Inferior Surface of the Brain"
- Blood supply at neuropat.dote.hu
