title: Anatomical Variability in the Termination of the Basilar Artery in the Human Cadaveric Brain.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The basilar artery (BA) is the prominent median vessel of the vertebrobasilar circulation and usually terminates into two posterior cerebral arteries forming the posterior angle of the Circle of Willis (CW). To tackle different variations of CW, basilar artery acts as a guideline for neuroradiologists and neurosurgeons. Basilar termination is the most frequent site of aneurysm. Abnormalities at the site of termination may compress the oculomotor nerve. Variations at the termination may complicate surgeries at the base of brain. The present study aims to add to the knowledge regarding the termination pattern of the BA.
  
  
  METHODS
  170 BA terminations were studied. Morphological variations in the termination pattern were noted. Frequency of variations in termination patterns was recorded. Dimensions of BA were measured. Data were analyzed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Morphological variations in termination were seen in 17.64%. Bifurcation, Trifurcation, Quadrifurcation, Pentafurcation and Nonfurcation of BA was seen in 82.35%, 5.29%, 5.88%, 3.52% and 2.94% respectively. BA associated with aneurysm and Fenestration was seen in 3.52% and 1.17% respectively. Mean length and diameter of BA was 30.27 mm and 4.8 mm respectively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Awareness of these anatomical variations in termination patterns of BA is important in neurovascular procedures.
authors.affiliation: Rural Medical College, Department of Anatomy, Post. Loni, Tal. Rahata, Dist. Ahmednagar, Maharashtra, India.
authors.forename: Sandhya
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Gunnal
authors.forename: Mujeebuddin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Farooqui
authors.forename: Rajendra
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Wabale
mesh_terms: D001488:Basilar Artery / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000473:pathology; D001921:Brain / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D002102:Cadaver; D002536:Cerebral Arteries / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D002941:Circle of Willis / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D006801:Humans; D002532:Intracranial Aneurysm / Q000473:pathology; D014715:Vertebrobasilar Insufficiency / Q000473:pathology