Basilar artery

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Artery: Basilar artery
The basilar artery (middle of figure) arises from the vertebral arteries and terminates when it bifurcates in the left and right posterior cerebral arteries.
File:Arteries beneath brain Gray closer.jpg
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).
Latin	arteria basilaris
Gray's	subject #148 580
Supplies	superior and inferior aspects of the cerebellum pons
From	vertebral arteries
To	anterior inferior cerebellar artery pontine branches
Vein
MeSH	A07.231.114.106
Dorlands/Elsevier	{{{DorlandsPre}}}/{{{DorlandsSuf}}}

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).

Additional images

File:Circulus arteriosus schaf.jpg

cr = Arteria cerebri rostralis, cm = Arteria cerebri media, ma = Arteria maxillaris, RZ = Retezuflüsse, ci = Arteria carotis interna, rm = Rete mirabile, ba = Arteria basilaris

The internal carotid & vertebral arteries (Right side view).

File:Gray513.png

Circle of Willis 6.jpg

Basilar artery

Medulla oblongata and pons. Anterior surface.

Gray721.png

The hypophysis cerebri, in position. Shown in sagittal section.

Cerebral angiography, arteria vertebralis sinister injection.JPG

Cerebral angiogram showing the transverse projection of the vertebro-basilar and posterior cerebral circulation.

Human brainstem blood supply description.JPG

Human brainstem blood supply

See also

• Basilar artery migraines
• Cerebral arteriosclerosis
• Cerebral blood flow
• Cerebral hemorrhage
• Cerebrovascular accident
• Cerebrovascular disorders

External links

• Diagram at merck.com
• SUNY Labs 28:09-0204 - "Cranial Fossae: Arteries, Inferior Surface of the Brain"
• Blood supply at neuropat.dote.hu
• Roche Lexicon - illustrated navigator, at Elsevier 13048.000-1

• Roche Lexicon - illustrated navigator, at Elsevier 13048.000-3

de:Arteria basilaris es:Arteria basilar fa:سرخرگ قاعده‌ای fr:Artère basilaire hr:Osnovična arterija la:Arteria basilaris nl:Arteria basilaris nds:Arteria basilaris pt:Artéria basilar ru:Основная артерия sv:Basartären