The vertebral‐basilar system of dog in relation to man and other mammals

The basilar artery of the dog was studied and its branches traced to their terminations. The nomenclature used is based on the origin, course and termination of the arteries. The basilar artery arose from a spinal arterial circle formed in the vertebral canal at the level of the atlanto‐occipital articulation by union of vertebral arteries and the ventral spinal artery. The arterial supply to the membranous labyrinth arose from the anterior inferior cerebellar artery. After entering the porus acusticus, one or more tiny labyrinthine arteries arose and the parent trunk then looped dorsally out of the meatus to supply the lower portions of the cerebellum. A branch of the basilar artery, unnamed in the dog, was associated closely with the trigeminal nerve; a separate arterial supply to the caudal colliculus arose from the medial branch of the superior cerebellar artery. It was concluded that branches of the basilar artery of the dog and man are similar since, with exception of the middle inferior cerebellar artery, all branches of the basilar artery in man may be found in dog.