Cranial Blood Supply- Vertebral Artery and COW

Question 1

Once the vertebral artery branches off the subclavian, where does it travel?

Answer 1

It ascends up and travels within the foramen of V6-V1 until it reaches the skull and passes through the foramen magnum. Travels on the surface of the anterior medulla and then merges with the other vertebral artery on the surface on the pons/near clivus to form the basilar artery.

Question 2

While traveling up the spinal cord/on the medulla after entering the skull through the foramen magnum, what are 4 branches it gives off?

Answer 2

1. Meningeal branches
2. Posterior spinal artery
3. Anterior spinal artery
4. Posterior inferior cerebellar artery

Question 3

5 branches that come off the basilar artery

Answer 3

1. Pontine arters
2. Labyrinthine arteries
3. Anterior inferior cerebellar arteries
4. Superior cerebellar arteries
5. Terminal branches