The pontine arteries are a number of small
arteries
An artery (plural arteries) () is a blood vessel in humans and most animals that takes blood away from the heart to one or more parts of the body (tissues, lungs, brain etc.). Most arteries carry oxygenated blood; the two exceptions are the pul ...
which come off at right angles from either side of the
basilar artery
The basilar artery () is one of the arteries that supplies the brain with oxygen-rich blood.
The two vertebral arteries and the basilar artery are known as the vertebral basilar system, which supplies blood to the posterior part of the circle of W ...
and supply the
pons
The pons (from Latin , "bridge") is part of the brainstem that in humans and other bipeds lies inferior to the midbrain, superior to the medulla oblongata and anterior to the cerebellum.
The pons is also called the pons Varolii ("bridge of Va ...
and adjacent parts of the
brain
A brain is an organ that serves as the center of the nervous system in all vertebrate and most invertebrate animals. It is located in the head, usually close to the sensory organs for senses such as vision. It is the most complex organ in a v ...
. The pontine arteries include the
paramedian arteries
The paramedian arteries, or posteromedial central arteries, are pontine arteries – branches of the basilar artery that supply the pontine nuclei, corticobulbar tract, corticospinal tract
The corticospinal tract is a white matter motor pathw ...
, the short circumferential, and the long circumferential arteries.
See also
*
Superior cerebellar artery
The superior cerebellar artery (SCA) is an artery of the head. It arises near the end of the basilar artery. It is a branch of the basilar artery. It supplies parts of the cerebellum, the midbrain, and other nearby structures. It is the cause of ...
Notes
References
Additional images
Image:Gray516.png, The arteries of the base of the brain.
Image:Human brainstem blood supply description.JPG, Human brainstem blood supply
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Arteries of the head and neck