Basilar artery

Basilar artery

Infobox Artery
Name = PAGENAME
Latin = arteria basilaris
GraySubject = 148
GrayPage = 580


Caption = The basilar artery (middle of figure) arises from the vertebral arteries and terminates when it bifurcates in the left and right posterior cerebral arteries.


Caption2 = The arteries of the base of the brain. Basilar artery labeled below center. The temporal pole of the cerebrum and a portion of the cerebellar hemisphere have been removed on the right side. Inferior aspect (viewed from below).
Width = 335px
BranchFrom = vertebral arteries
BranchTo = anterior inferior cerebellar artery
pontine branches
Vein =
Supplies = superior and inferior aspects of the cerebellum
pons
MeshName = Basilar+Artery
MeshNumber = A07.231.114.106
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.

Course

It arises from the confluence of the two vertebral 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).

Pathology

Thrombosis of the basilar artery can be life-threatening, as it leads to hypoxia and ischemia of the brainstem.

Poor prognoses are common and these can include paralysis of all extremities, heavy disturbances in sensation, difficulty in swallowing and difficulty in respiration.

Basilar artery thrombosis is the most common cause of locked-in syndrome.cite journal |author=Young NP, Dyck PJ, Wijdicks EF |title=Locked-in syndrome due to invasive fungal rhinosinusitis in an immunosuppressed patient |journal=The neurologist |volume=13 |issue=3 |pages=158–60 |year=2007 |pmid=17495762 |doi=10.1097/01.nrl.0000263701.15487.97]


=Additional

References

External links

* [http://www.merck.com/media/mmhe2/figures/fg086_1.gifDiagram at merck.com]
* - "Cranial Fossae: Arteries, Inferior Surface of the Brain"
* [http://www.neuropat.dote.hu/table/erell.htm Blood supply at neuropat.dote.hu]
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