Superior cerebellar artery

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Superior cerebellar artery
CerebellumArteries.jpg
The three major arteries of the cerebellum: the SCA, AICA, and PICA.
Circle of Willis en.svg
Diagram of the arterial circulation at the base of the brain (inferior view). (Superior cerebellar artery labeled at center right.)
Details
Source Basilar artery
Vein Superior cerebellar veins
Supplies Cerebellum
Identifiers
Latin arteria cerebelli superior
TA98 A12.2.08.025
TA2 4563
FMA 50573
Anatomical terminology

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 trigeminal neuralgia in some patients.

Contents

Structure

The superior cerebellar artery arises near the end of the basilar artery. [1] It passes laterally around the brainstem. [1] This is immediately below the oculomotor nerve, [1] which separates it from the posterior cerebral artery. It then winds around the cerebral peduncle, close to the trochlear nerve. It also lies close to the cerebellar tentorium. [1] When it arrives at the upper surface of the cerebellum, it divides into branches which ramify in the pia mater and anastomose with those of the anterior inferior cerebellar arteries and the posterior inferior cerebellar arteries.

Several branches are given to the pineal body, the anterior medullary velum, and the tela chorioidea of the third ventricle.

Function

The arteries of the base of the brain. Superior cerebellar artery labeled near center. The temporal pole of the cerebrum and a portion of the cerebellar hemisphere have been removed on the right side (left half of diagram). Inferior aspect (viewed from below). Arteries beneath brain Gray closer.jpg
The arteries of the base of the brain. Superior cerebellar artery labeled near center. The temporal pole of the cerebrum and a portion of the cerebellar hemisphere have been removed on the right side (left half of diagram). Inferior aspect (viewed from below).

The superior cerebellar artery supplies deep parts and superior parts of the cerebellum. [1] [2] It supplies parts of the midbrain (tectum, including the cerebral crus). [1] It also supplies superior medullary velum, the superior cerebellar peduncle, the middle cerebellar peduncle, and the interpeduncular region. [1]

Clinical significance

Trigeminal neuralgia

The superior cerebellar artery is frequently the cause of trigeminal neuralgia. It compresses the trigeminal nerve (CN V), causing pain on the patient's face (the distribution of the nerve). This may be treated with vascular microsurgery to decompress the trigeminal nerve. [2] At autopsy, 50% of people without trigeminal neuralgia will also be noted to have vascular compression of the nerve. [3]

Stroke

An infarction of the superior cerebellar artery can cause a cerebellar stroke. [4] This can cause a headache and ataxia (with problems walking). [4]

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Medulla oblongata</span> Structure of the brain stem

The medulla oblongata or simply medulla is a long stem-like structure which makes up the lower part of the brainstem. It is anterior and partially inferior to the cerebellum. It is a cone-shaped neuronal mass responsible for autonomic (involuntary) functions, ranging from vomiting to sneezing. The medulla contains the cardiac, respiratory, vomiting and vasomotor centers, and therefore deals with the autonomic functions of breathing, heart rate and blood pressure as well as the sleep–wake cycle. "Medulla" is from Latin, ‘pith or marrow’. And "oblongata" is from Latin, ‘lengthened or longish or elongated'.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pons</span> Part of the brainstem in humans and other bipeds

The pons is part of the brainstem that in humans and other mammals, lies inferior to the midbrain, superior to the medulla oblongata and anterior to the cerebellum.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Brainstem</span> Posterior part of the brain, adjoining and structurally continuous

The brainstem is the stalk-like part of the brain that interconnects the cerebrum and diencephalon with the spinal cord. In the human brain, the brainstem is composed of the midbrain, the pons, and the medulla oblongata. The midbrain is continuous with the thalamus of the diencephalon through the tentorial notch.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Midbrain</span> Forward-most portion of the brainstem

The midbrain or mesencephalon is the rostral-most portion of the brainstem connecting the diencephalon and cerebrum with the pons. It consists of the cerebral peduncles, tegmentum, and tectum.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fourth ventricle</span> One of four central brain cavities filled with cerebrospinal fluid

The fourth ventricle is one of the four connected fluid-filled cavities within the human brain. These cavities, known collectively as the ventricular system, consist of the left and right lateral ventricles, the third ventricle, and the fourth ventricle. The fourth ventricle extends from the cerebral aqueduct to the obex, and is filled with cerebrospinal fluid (CSF).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Basilar artery</span> Artery that supplies the brain with blood

The basilar artery is one of the arteries that supplies the brain with oxygen-rich blood.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Subarachnoid cisterns</span> Spaces around the brain filled with cerebrospinal fluid

The subarachnoid cisterns are spaces formed by openings in the subarachnoid space, an anatomic space in the meninges of the brain. The space is situated between the two meninges, the arachnoid mater and the pia mater. These cisterns are filled with cerebrospinal fluid (CSF).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Posterior cerebral artery</span> Artery which supplies blood to the occipital lobe of the brain

The posterior cerebral artery (PCA) is one of a pair of cerebral arteries that supply oxygenated blood to the occipital lobe, part of the back of the human brain. The two arteries originate from the distal end of the basilar artery, where it bifurcates into the left and right posterior cerebral arteries. These anastomose with the middle cerebral arteries and internal carotid arteries via the posterior communicating arteries.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Posterior inferior cerebellar artery</span>

The posterior inferior cerebellar artery (PICA) is the largest branch of the vertebral artery. It is one of the three main arteries that supply blood to the cerebellum, a part of the brain. Blockage of the posterior inferior cerebellar artery can result in a type of stroke called lateral medullary syndrome.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Anterior inferior cerebellar artery</span> Major blood supply to the cerebellum

The anterior inferior cerebellar artery (AICA) is one of three pairs of arteries that supplies blood to the cerebellum.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Trochlear nucleus</span> Motor nucleus of cranial nerve IV

The nucleus of the trochlear nerve is a motor nucleus in the medial midbrain giving rise to the trochlear nerve.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Superior cerebellar peduncle</span>

In the human brain, the superior cerebellar peduncle is a paired structure of white matter that connects the cerebellum to the midbrain. It consists mainly of efferent fibers, the cerebellothalamic tract that runs from a cerebellar hemisphere to the contralateral thalamus, and the cerebellorubral tract that runs from a cerebellar hemisphere to the red nucleus. It also contains afferent tracts, most prominent of which is the ventral spinocerebellar tract. Other afferent tracts are the trigeminothalamic fibers, tectocerebellar fibers, and noradrenergic fibers from the locus coeruleus. The superior peduncle emerges from the upper and medial parts of the white matter of each hemisphere and is placed under cover of the upper part of the cerebellum.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Middle cerebellar peduncle</span> Structure in the brain connecting the pons to the cerebellum

The middle cerebellar peduncle is a paired structure of the brain. It connects the pons to the cerebellum, with fibres originating from the pontine nucleus and travelling to the opposite hemisphere of the cerebellar cortex. It is supplied by the anterior inferior cerebellar artery (AICA) and branches from the basilar artery. It conveys information from the cerebrum and the pons to the cerebellum.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Superior medullary velum</span> Thin layer between the superior cerebellar peduncles

The superior medullary velum is a thin, transparent lamina of white matter which - together with the inferior medullary velum - forms the roof of the fourth ventricle. It extends between the two superior cerebellar peduncles. The lingula of cerebellum covers - and adheres to - its dorsal surface.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Weber's syndrome</span> Medical condition

Weber's syndrome, also known as midbrain stroke syndrome or superior alternating hemiplegia, is a form of stroke that affects the medial portion of the midbrain. It involves oculomotor fascicles in the interpeduncular cisterns and cerebral peduncle so it characterizes the presence of an ipsilateral lower motor neuron type oculomotor nerve palsy and contralateral hemiparesis or hemiplegia.

The quadrigeminal cistern is a subarachnoid cistern situated between splenium of corpus callosum, and the superior surface of the cerebellum. It contains a part of the great cerebral vein, the posterior cerebral artery, quadrigeminal artery, glossopharyngeal nerve, and the pineal gland.

Benedikt syndrome, also called Benedikt's syndrome or paramedian midbrain syndrome, is a rare type of posterior circulation stroke of the brain, with a range of neurological symptoms affecting the midbrain, cerebellum and other related structures.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Anatomy of the cerebellum</span> Structures in the cerebellum, a part of the brain

The anatomy of the cerebellum can be viewed at three levels. At the level of gross anatomy, the cerebellum consists of a tightly folded and crumpled layer of cortex, with white matter underneath, several deep nuclei embedded in the white matter, and a fluid-filled ventricle in the middle. At the intermediate level, the cerebellum and its auxiliary structures can be broken down into several hundred or thousand independently functioning modules or compartments known as microzones. At the microscopic level, each module consists of the same small set of neuronal elements, laid out with a highly stereotyped geometry.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Trigeminal artery</span>

The trigeminal artery is an artery that supplies the basilar artery with blood during human embryonic development. Normally, the trigeminal artery involutes after the formation of the posterior communicating artery. However, in some cases, the artery persists into adulthood and can cause medical complications, including intracranial aneurysms.

References

PD-icon.svgThis article incorporates text in the public domain from page 580 of the 20th edition of Gray's Anatomy (1918)

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Miyawaki, Edison; Statland, Jeffrey (2003). "Cerebral Blood Vessels: Arteries". Encyclopedia of the Neurological Sciences. Academic Press. pp. 584–591. doi:10.1016/B0-12-226870-9/02167-5. ISBN   978-0-12-226870-0.
  2. 1 2 DeMyer, William (2009). "2 - Applied Anatomy of the Brain Arteries". Stroke in Children and Young Adults (2nd ed.). Saunders. pp. 15–68. doi:10.1016/B978-0-7506-7418-8.00002-1. ISBN   978-0-7506-7418-8.
  3. Handbook of Neurosurgery, Greenberg, M.D., Thieme 2006
  4. 1 2 Sarikaya, Hakan; Steinlin, Maja (2018). "20 - Cerebellar stroke in adults and children". Handbook of Clinical Neurology. Vol. 155. Elsevier. pp. 301–312. doi:10.1016/B978-0-444-64189-2.00020-2. ISBN   978-0-444-64189-2. ISSN   0072-9752. PMID   29891068.