Lateral pontine branches of basilar artery
Rami laterales pontis arteriae basilaris
- Synonym: Long circumferential pontine branches of basilar artery
- Related terms: Lateral branches; Lateral branches; Circumferential pontine branches
Definition
The pontine arteries are a number of small vessels which come off at right angles from either side of the basilar artery and supply the pons and adjacent parts of the brain.
They are subdivised in two groups:
- The medial branches (paramedian pontine branches) that arise from the dorsal side of the basilar artery and penetrate the pons vertically, without reaching the floor of the ventricle.
- The lateral branches (Circumferential pontine branches) that arise from the lateral side of the basilar artery and supply the nuclei of cranial nerves V, VI, VII and VIII.
References
Text by Antoine Micheau, MD - Copyright IMAIOS
