The basilar artery is an artery in the human brain. Its origin is at the junction of the left as well as the right vertebral arteries. Basically, the basilar artery is one of the arteries responsible for supplying the brain with oxygenated blood. A serious disease that sometimes occurs in connection with the vertebral artery is thrombosis in the artery.
What is the basilar artery?
The basilar artery forms in the area between the pons and medulla oblongata. Here, the vertebral arteries join near the clivus at the base of the skull. Subsequently, the basilar artery passes through the basilar sulcus in the area of the pons and travels through a dilated area of the subarachnoid space. This is the cisterna pontis. In the anterior area of the pons, the basilar artery bifurcates into two other arteries, namely the posterior cerebral arteries. Before the artery bifurcates, the arteriae cerebelli superiores depart from the truncal vessel. The total length of the artery is only three to three and a half centimeters. Basically, the basilar artery has three branches. These are the inferior cerebellar artery, the superior cerebellar artery, and the pontine artery. In some cases, the labyrinthine artery also originates in the basilar artery.
Anatomy and structure
The complete supply area of the basilar artery is sometimes called the ‘vertebrobasilar stromal area’. The average length of the artery is circa three centimeters, while its diameter is approximately three millimeters. The basilar artery runs through the cisterna pontis in a rostral direction. The artery is located in the so-called sulcus basilaris. This area is formed by special elevations on the so-called pyramidal tracts. Finally, the artery divides into the two arteriae cerebri posteriores. Later in the artery, the arteriae inferiores anteriores cerebelli, which supplies the cerebellum, and the arteriae superiores cerebelli split off. In addition, the artery also contributes to supply the labyrinthine artery. However, in numerous cases, this artery arises from the inferior anterior cerebelli artery and supplies the inner ear.
Function and Tasks
The basilar artery plays an important role in supplying blood to the brain. In its course, the artery divides into various small branches, which in turn supply blood to other areas of the brain. This primarily involves the transport of oxygen-rich blood, which is essential for the functioning of the human brain. Interruptions in the blood supply and the course of the basilar artery have serious to fatal consequences for the affected person. In addition, the artery is also responsible for supplying certain parts of the pons as well as the medulla oblongata. For this purpose, the basilar artery has a large number of small branches and branches, the so-called rami ad pontem or arteriae pontis. These branches are subdivided with respect to their supply sites. The medial branches are primarily responsible for supplying blood to the arteries in the surrounding areas of the pons.
Diseases
Various complaints and diseases are possible in connection with the basilar artery. Basically, circulatory disturbances in the supply area of the basilar artery are manifested primarily by complaints such as dizziness and noises in the ears. These symptoms are primarily caused by the inner ear and areas of the vestibulocochlear nerve no longer being sufficiently supplied with blood and oxygen. In addition, disturbances of the sense of balance and paralysis symptoms as well as paraesthesia are possible. In many cases, however, the symptoms are limited to one half of the body, because often only a few branches of the basilar artery are affected. Thrombosis of the basilar artery is a particularly serious condition. This is a life-threatening condition, as it sometimes leads to an infarction of the brain stem. As a result, symptoms such as paralyzed limbs, disturbances in sensibility, and swallowing and breathing disorders become apparent. In a particularly severe brainstem infarction, the head, trunk and limbs are completely motionless. Only the eyes can be moved arbitrarily in a vertical direction.Basilar artery thrombosis occurs when the basilar artery becomes occluded by a thrombus. This is often due to degenerative changes in the artery or an embolism. In addition to nausea, vomiting and dizziness, affected patients usually also suffer from various neurological symptoms. These include, for example, speech disorders, clouding of consciousness, nystagmus or ataxia. Thrombosis of the basilar artery is diagnosed by MRI examination. Special contrast agents are used for this purpose. Basically, the prognosis for basilar artery thrombosis is relatively poor. The chances of survival increase the sooner treatment of the thrombosis is started. Without adequate treatment, basilar artery thrombosis has a mortality rate of over 90 percent. Thrombolysis is the therapeutic measure of first choice. This is performed locally by microcatheter or systemically. In principle, a thrombosis of the basilar artery is an urgent emergency requiring immediate medical attention. Therefore, a physician or emergency physician should be consulted as soon as possible at the first symptoms of the disease.
