Vascular supply and territories of the cerebellum

Abstract

Within the posterior circulation, brain and vascular structures are characterized as involving the proximal, middle, and distal posterior circulation territories (Caplan 1996; Caplan 2000; Caplan et al. 2004, 2005; Chaves et al. 1994; Savitz and Caplan 2005). The proximal intracranial posterior circulation territory includes regions supplied by the intracranial vertebral arteries (ICVAs) - the medulla oblongata and the posterior inferior cerebellar artery (PICA)-supplied region of the cerebellum. The ICVAs join at the medullo-pontine junction to form the basilar artery (BA). The middle intracranial posterior circulation territory includes the portion of the brain supplied by the BA up to its superior cerebellar artery (SCA) branches - the pons and the anterior inferior cerebellar artery (AICA)-supplied portions of the cerebellum. The BA divides to form the two posterior cerebral arteries (PCAs) at the junction between the pons and the midbrain, just beyond the origins of the superior cerebellar arteries (SCAs). The distal intracranial posterior circulation territory includes all of the territory supplied by the rostral BA and its SCA, PCA, and their penetrating artery branches - midbrain, thalamus, SCA-supplied cerebellum, and PCA territories. This distribution is shown diagrammatically in Fig. 24.1.