Territory of branches from basilar artery
Area rami arteriae basilaris
Definition
Supply the medulla oblongata and the pons.
Stroke pattern of acute occlusion or the basilar artery :
- sudden death/loss of consciousness
- top of the basilar syndrome:
- visual and oculomotor deficits
- behavioural abnormalities
- somnolence, hallucinations and dreamlike behaviour
- motor dysfunction is often absent
- proximal and mid portions of the basilar artery (pons) can result in patients being 'locked in' :
- complete loss of movement (quadriparesis and lower cranial dysfunction)
- preserved consciousness
- preserved ocular movements (often only vertical gaze)
References
The vascular territories in the cerebellum and brainstem: CT and MR study. by Savoiardo M, Bracchi M, Passerini A, Visciani A. AJNR Am J Neuroradiol. 1987 Mar-Apr;8(2):199-209.
Oxford Textbook of Stroke and Cerebrovascular Disease - Bo Norrving - Oxford University Press, 2014
