Oculomotor, trochlear, and abducens nerves penetrated by cerebral vessels. Microanatomy and possible clinical significance.
Twenty formaldehyde-fixed brains were examined under the stereoscopic microscope. In 12 brains (60%), the oculomotor nerves were penetrated by the circumflex mesencephalic artery or by a branch of the perforating vessels of the posterior cerebral artery, either on one side (40%) or on both (20%). In one brain (5%), a particular relationship was noticed between the trochlear nerve and the superior cerebellar artery. The abducens nerves were penetrated by the corresponding pontine veins in three brains (15%). These anatomical findings might have important clinical implications.
D000010:Abducens Nerve / Q000098:blood supply*; D002536:Cerebral Arteries / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D006801:Humans; D009802:Oculomotor Nerve / Q000098:blood supply*; D014321:Trochlear Nerve / Q000098:blood supply*