Morphometric Study of Basilar Artery in the Eastern Indian Population

Area of Science:

• Neuroanatomy
• Vascular Anatomy
• Cranial Base Anatomy

Background:

• The basilar artery (BA) is a critical vessel formed by the vertebral arteries, supplying the posterior circulation.
• Understanding BA morphometry is essential for diagnosing and treating posterior fossa vascular pathologies.

Purpose of the Study:

• To establish a baseline database for the morphometric parameters of the basilar artery.
• To document variations in the origin and termination of the basilar artery.

Main Methods:

• Analysis of 38 formalin-fixed human brains.
• Measurement of basilar artery external length and diameter using digital Vernier calipers.
• Documentation of origin and termination variations with a magnifying glass.

Main Results:

• The average basilar artery length was 25.58 ± 3.57 mm and the average diameter was 3.05 ± 0.41 mm.
• Most cases exhibited normal origin and termination points.
• Minor variations in origin and termination levels were observed in a few cases.

Conclusions:

• No significant gender predisposition was found for basilar artery length and diameter.
• The established baseline data aids neurosurgeons and interventional radiologists in procedural planning for aneurysms and stenosis.
• This study provides valuable anatomical data for vascular interventions in the posterior cranial fossa.