Basilar sulcus

The basilar sulcus is a midline groove on the ventral surface of the pons. It runs vertically along the anterior aspect of the pons, extending from the pontomedullary junction caudally to the interpeduncular fossa rostrally.

This sulcus accommodates the basilar artery, which lies within it and gives rise to several branches, including anterior inferior cerebellar, pontine, and labyrinthine arteries along its course, as well as the superior cerebellar and posterior cerebral arteries at its upper end.

Flanking the basilar sulcus are raised regions formed by transverse pontocerebellar fibers and underlying descending pyramidal motor tracts, including corticospinal and corticobulbar fibers, as they traverse the pons.