Basilar Artery within the Skull, Superior View

Description

Centered along the clivus, the basilar artery courses superiorly from the vertebral artery confluence at the pontomedullary junction toward the dorsum sellae, then terminates in a terminal bifurcation into the right and left posterior cerebral arteries. Lateral to this midline trunk, the internal carotid arteries ascend through the carotid canals and contribute to the anterior circulation, with proximal segments of the anterior cerebral arteries directed anteromedially toward the interhemispheric fissure. The middle meningeal artery arborizes across the inner table of the calvaria, its branches spreading laterally over the dura in a characteristic fan-like pattern. Bony landmarks of the cranial base and foramina remain visible beneath the red arterial pathways, anchoring vessel location to the skull. A superior, intracranial perspective like this clarifies the relationship between posterior circulation vessels and the central skull base, a spatial problem that often confuses learners when they first encounter the basilar apex and its posterior cerebral arteries. It also maps the middle meningeal artery to the pterion region, the classic setup for an epidural hematoma after lateral head trauma, where arterial bleeding strips dura from bone. One clean glance. The basilar bifurcation region also matters for aneurysm planning, where microsurgical corridors and endovascular navigation depend on understanding the midline basilar trunk and its terminal branches. Neuroanatomy and head and neck anatomy courses can pair this plate with Circle of Willis schematics to bridge textbook diagrams and real cranial geometry. It also suits neurosurgery and neuroradiology teaching materials discussing vertebrobasilar insufficiency, basilar tip aneurysms, and middle meningeal artery embolization workflows, as well as patient-facing publisher graphics on intracranial arterial supply. Anatomical accuracy verified by SciePro's Medical Advisory Board.