Home > Encyclopedia of Neurological Disorders > Vertebrobasilar Disease

Definition

Vertebrobasilar disease describes a broad spectrum of vascular abnormalities in the arterial supply to the brain stem.

Description

The vertebrobasilar circulation (VC, also called the posterior circulation) consists of the arterial supply to the brain stem, cerebellum, and occipital cortex. The vertebral arteries arise from the subclavian arteries in the neck. In the brain, the vertebral arteries lie deep in the base of the brain and unite in an area called the medullopontine junction to form the basilar artery. The basilar artery branches again to form the posterior cerebral arteries. Any interruption in blood flow in the VC may cause a broad spectrum of symptoms determined by the specific arterial branch or branches involved, and the degree of occlusion inside the blood vessels. The brain stem is a major area of...