Medial medullary branches of vertebral artery

The medial medullary branches of vertebral artery correspond principally to the perforating arterial group of the medullary circulation. These are very small arteries arising from the vertebral artery, although perforating arteries also arise from the anterior spinal artery and its roots, and rarely from the basilar artery superiorly.

The perforating arteries can arise independently, originate through common trunks, or share a common stem with the anterolateral arteries and, occasionally, arise from the lateral arteries.

They penetrate and supply the medial region of the medulla oblongata. Thus, when the medullary branches are considered according to the four-group classification—perforating, anterolateral, lateral and dorsal arteries—the vertebral artery-derived perforating arteries constitute its principal medial medullary branches.