The basilar artery (U.K.: ; U.S.: ) is one of the

arteries An artery () is a blood vessel in humans and most other animals that takes oxygenated blood away from the heart in the systemic circulation to one or more parts of the body. Exceptions that carry deoxygenated blood are the pulmonary arteries in ...

that supplies the

brain The brain is an organ (biology), organ that serves as the center of the nervous system in all vertebrate and most invertebrate animals. It consists of nervous tissue and is typically located in the head (cephalization), usually near organs for ...

with oxygen-rich blood. The two vertebral arteries and the basilar artery are known as the vertebral basilar system, which supplies blood to the posterior part of the

circle of Willis The circle of Willis (also called Willis' circle, loop of Willis, cerebral arterial circle, and Willis polygon) is a circulatory anastomosis that supplies blood to the brain and surrounding structures in reptiles, birds and mammals, including huma ...

and joins with blood supplied to the anterior part of the circle of Willis from the internal carotid arteries.

Structure

The diameter of the basilar artery range from 1.5 to 6.6 mm.

Origin

The basilar artery arises from the union of the two vertebral arteries at the junction between the

medulla oblongata The medulla oblongata or simply medulla is a long stem-like structure which makes up the lower part of the brainstem. It is anterior and partially inferior to the cerebellum. It is a cone-shaped neuronal mass responsible for autonomic (involun ...

and the

pons The pons (from Latin , "bridge") is part of the brainstem that in humans and other mammals, lies inferior to the midbrain, superior to the medulla oblongata and anterior to the cerebellum. The pons is also called the pons Varolii ("bridge of ...

between the

abducens nerve The abducens nerve or abducent nerve, also known as the sixth cranial nerve, cranial nerve VI, or simply CN VI, is a cranial nerve in humans and various other animals that controls the movement of the lateral rectus muscle, one of the extraocula ...

s (CN VI).

Course

It ascends along the basilar sulcus of the ventral

. It divides at the junction of the midbrain and pons into the posterior cerebral arteries.

Branches

Its branches from caudal to rostral include: *

anterior inferior cerebellar artery The anterior inferior cerebellar artery (AICA) is one of three pairs of artery, arteries that supplies blood to the cerebellum. It arises from the basilar artery on each side at the level of the junction between the medulla oblongata and the pons ...

labyrinthine artery The labyrinthine artery (auditory artery, internal auditory artery) is a branch of either the anterior inferior cerebellar artery or the basilar artery. It accompanies the vestibulocochlear nerve (CN VIII) through the internal acoustic meatus. It ...

(<15% of people, usually branches from the anterior inferior cerebellar artery) * pontine arteries *

superior cerebellar artery The superior cerebellar artery (SCA) is an artery of the head. It arises near the end of the basilar artery. It is a branch of the basilar artery. It supplies parts of the cerebellum, the midbrain, and other nearby structures. It is the cause of t ...

Clinical relevance

A basilar artery stroke classically leads to locked-in syndrome.

Additional images

File:Gray513.png, The internal carotid and vertebral arteries (Right side view) File:Circle of Willis 6.jpg, Basilar artery File:Sobo 1909 3 548.png, The arteries of the base of the brain. Basilar artery labeled below center. The temporal pole of the

cerebrum The cerebrum (: cerebra), telencephalon or endbrain is the largest part of the brain, containing the cerebral cortex (of the two cerebral hemispheres) as well as several subcortical structures, including the hippocampus, basal ganglia, and olfac ...

and the

cerebellar The cerebellum (: cerebella or cerebellums; Latin for 'little brain') is a major feature of the hindbrain of all vertebrates. Although usually smaller than the cerebrum, in some animals such as the mormyrid fishes it may be as large as it or e ...

hemisphere have been removed on the right side. Inferior aspect (viewed from below).

References

External links

Basilar Artery at neuroangio.org
* - "Cranial Fossae: Arteries, Inferior Surface of the Brain"

* * {{Authority control Arteries of the head and neck