Neuroanatomic evidence to explain why bilateral internuclear ophthalmoplegia may result from occlusion of a unilateral pontine branch artery.
Microscopic study of serial sections of the pons in two autopsy cases without known neurologic disease showed that the terminal portion of paramedian tegmental pontine arteries may divide to supply the region of the medial longitudinal fasciculus bilaterally. This finding provides the basis for the occurrence of bilateral internuclear ophthalmoplegia with unilateral basilar branch artery occlusion.
Fisher
C M
CM
Neurology Service, Massachusetts General Hospital, Fruit Street, Boston, MA 02114, VBK 910, USA.
D001157:Arterial Occlusive Diseases / Q000150:complications*; D001158:Arteries / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D001488:Basilar Artery; D002102:Cadaver; D006801:Humans; D008526:Medulla Oblongata / Q000098:blood supply; D009886:Ophthalmoplegia / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D011149:Pons / Q000098:blood supply*; D015348:Vision, Binocular