Basilar artery

The basilar artery is an unpaired median artery that supplies the brainstem and contributes to the arterial supply of the cerebellum and caudal parts of the brain.

• Origin: It arises from the vertebrobasilar arterial system, as the rostral continuation of the ventral spinal artery reinforced by the vertebral arteries.

• Course / Relations: It courses rostrally along the midline of the ventral surface of the medulla oblongata and pons.

• Termination / Branches / Anastomoses: It gives rise to branches supplying the medulla oblongata, pons and cerebellum, including the caudal cerebellar arteries. Rostral to the pons, it divides into terminal branches that join the caudal communicating arteries and contribute to the caudal part of the cerebral arterial circle.

The basilar artery is a median artery of the ventral surface of the brainstem. It extends rostrally from the vertebrobasilar arterial system along the medulla oblongata and pons, supplying the brainstem and cerebellum. Rostral to the pons, its terminal branches contribute to the cerebral arterial circle.