Pontine arteries

Last revised by Frank Gaillard on 4 May 2024

The pontine branches are the small arterial branches of the basilar artery that supply the pons and structures adjacent to the pons.

There are usually 3-5 paired arterial branches which are located in the mid-basilar region between the anterior inferior cerebellar artery and the superior cerebellar artery 1,2.

These branches can be divided into multiple groups based on their origin and course 3.

  • type 1: paramedian branches

  • type 2: short circumflex branches

  • type 3: composition of the paramedian and the short circumflex branches

  • type 4: long circumflex branches

  • type 5: median branches penetrating the pons along the basilar sulcus

In general, occlusion of any one of these branches results in unilateral pontine infarcts that do not cross the midline 4.

Related pathology

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