- Arterial Supply 319
Brainstem Arteries ( Advanced )
■ Th e key medullary arteries are the anterior spinal
artery and the posterior inferior cerebellar arteries.
■ Th e common source for the key medullary arteries is
the vertebral arteries.
■ Most pontine arterial supply comes from
circumferential arteries: the pontine paramedian
arteries, short pontine circumferential arteries, and
long pontine circumferential arteries.
■ Th e common source for the circumferential arteries is
the basilar artery.
■ Th e key arteries that supply the midbrain are the
paramedian mesencephalic and thalamoperforating
arteries and the collicular, posteromedial choroidal,
and superior cerebellar arteries.
■ Th e common source for the key midbrain arteries is
the posterior cerebral arteries (or distal basilar artery).Cerebellar Arteries
■ Th e posterior inferior cerebellar artery divides into
lateral and medial branches, which supply the lateral
and medial regions of the inferior cerebellum,
respectively.
■ Th e superior cerebellar artery divides into lateral and
medial branches, which supply the lateral and medial
superior cerebellum, respectively.
■ Th e middle cerebellum is supplied by all three
cerebellar arteries: the anterior inferior cerebellar
artery supplies the anterior middle cerebellum; the
posterior inferior cerebellar artery supplies the
posterior middle cerebellum, inferiorly, and the
superior cerebellar artery supplies the posterior
middle cerebellum, superiorly.
■ Th e anterior inferior cerebellar artery supplies much
of the middle cerebellar peduncle and commonly
gives off the internal auditory artery.Spinal Cord Arteries ( Advanced )
■ Th e anterior spinal artery supplies the anterior two
thirds of the spinal cord.
■ Th e posterior spinal arteries supply the posterior one
third of the spinal cord.
■ Segmental arteries help supply the anterior and
posterior spinal arteries throughout their descent.
■ Th e pial network is a ring of arterial supply that
surrounds the spinal cord; it has longitudinal
connections that form an arterial meshwork around
the spinal cord.
■ Th e most important radiculomedullary artery is the
artery of Adamkiewicz, which in the majority of
people arises from T9 to T12 and from the left side
of the body.
■ Th e intrinsic arterial territories divide into the
c e n t r i f u g a l a n d c e n t r i p e t a l s y s t e m s.Thalamic Arteries ( Advanced )
■ Th e thalamotuberal artery supplies the anterior
thalamus.
■ Th e medial posterior choroidal artery supplies the
medial posterior thalamus.
■ Th e lateral posterior choroidal artery supplies the
posterior thalamus.
■ Th e thalamoperforating arteries supply the medial
thalamus.
■ Th e thalamogeniculate arteries supply the lateral
t h a l a m u s.