Anat Cell Biol.  2011 Jun;44(2):164-167. 10.5115/acb.2011.44.2.164.

Bilateral origin of superior cerebellar arteries from the posterior cerebral arteries, and clues to its embryologic basis

• Aydin ME
• Kaya AH
• Kopuz C
• Demir MT
• Corumlu U
• Dagcinar A

• KMID: 1447427
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.5115/acb.2011.44.2.164

Abstract

The superior cerebellar artery is the most consistent branch of the basilar artery and arises near the bifurcation of the basilar artery. A bilateral origin of the superior cerebellar arteries from the posterior cerebral arteries has been rarely reported in the literature. Reporting variations in brain vessels is important for neurosurgeons to safely and confidently treat pathologies in this region. We report on a specimen with a bilateral origin to the superior cerebellar artery from the posterior cerebral artery and discuss the embryogenesis of this rare variation.

Keyword

Anatomy; Embryology; Superior cerebellar artery; Posterior cerebral artery; Variation

MeSH Terms

Arteries
Basilar Artery
Brain
Embryonic Development
Female
Posterior Cerebral Artery
Pregnancy

Figure

• 

  Fig. 1 Posterior circulation system is partly seen on a basal view of the injected brain. Note that the SCAs originates bilaterally from the PCAs rather than from the distal BA. AICA, anterior inferior cerebellar artery; BA, basilar artery; ICA, internal carotid artery; ON, oculomotor nerve; PB, pontine branches; PCA, posterior cerebral artery; PCOMA, posterior communicating artery; SCA, superior cerebellar artery.

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  Fig. 2 Schematic diagram of Fig. 1. AICA, anterior inferior cerebellar artery; BA, basilar artery; ICA, internal carotid artery; PB, pontine branches; PCA, posterior cerebral artery; PCOMA, posterior communicating artery; SCA, superior cerebellar artery.

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