Lateral pontine branches of basilar artery

At a glance

English

Lateral pontine branches of basilar artery

Latin (TA2)

Rami laterales pontis arteriae basilaris

System

Artery

Region

Head

Side

Paired, left and right

About the lateral pontine branches of basilar artery

The basilar artery lies in the shallow basilar groove on the front of the pons, formed by the union of the two vertebral arteries at the lower border of the pons. Along its length it gives a series of small pontine branches. Those that turn sideways and curve around the surface of the pons are the lateral pontine branches, also described as the circumferential arteries.

Some are short and end on the anterolateral surface; others are longer and run back towards the attachment of the middle cerebellar peduncle. They enter the pons from the side and supply its lateral part, including the root and nuclei of the trigeminal nerve, the lateral part of the pontine nuclei and the transverse fibres that become the middle cerebellar peduncle. Their territory adjoins that of the medial pontine branches towards the midline and, behind, that of the anterior inferior cerebellar and superior cerebellar arteries, which also send twigs into the pons.

Blockage of these branches causes an infarct in the side of the pons. Typical features are loss of feeling on the same side of the face, weakness of the chewing muscles, clumsiness of the limbs on the same side from damage to cerebellar connections, and reduced pain and temperature sense on the opposite side of the body. Such strokes may arise from disease in the basilar artery itself or from clot carried up from the vertebral arteries.

Course and supply

Arises from

Sides of the basilar artery along its course on the front of the pons.

Ends in

Curve around the pons and enter its lateral surface, some reaching the attachment of the middle cerebellar peduncle.

Supplies

Supply the lateral pons, including the trigeminal nuclei and root, the lateral pontine nuclei and the middle cerebellar peduncle.