Union of anterior spinal branches of vertebral artery

The union of anterior spinal branches of the vertebral artery refers to the anatomical formation of the anterior spinal artery by the convergence of small branches arising from the intracranial segments of both vertebral arteries, typically near their termination at the ventral surface of the medulla oblongata. This union most commonly occurs bilaterally, with right and left anterior spinal branches joining to form a single midline vessel that descends along the anterior median fissure of the spinal cord.