Background/Aim. Lateral branches of basilar artery mostly supply pons and cerebellum. The aim of this study was to
determine the morphological characteristics of lateral
branches and side branches of the individual lateral branches of human basilar artery. Methods. The research was
done on 25 anatomical specimens of adult brainstems, both
sexes, previously fixed by immersion in a 10% formalin. Microdissection and precise measurements of caliber and
length of the basilar artery were done under the stereolupe
MBS-9 by the ocular micrometer. Results. A number of
lateral branches was 9 on both sides, and the number of side
branches of the individual lateral branch of basilar artery
ranged from 0 to 4. The average diameter of side branches
on both sides was 0.15 mm while the average length on the
left side was 4.31 mm and 4.06 mm on the right. Side
braches on the left side of the basilar artery most commonly
penetrated pons and postpontine fossa (29.82% each) and
rarely the area of middle cerebellar pedicle (1.74 %). On the
right side, side branches most commonly penetrated pons
(35.29%), and rarely the areas of inferior and middle cerebellar pedicle (1.96% each). Conclusion. Maintrunk of basilar artery gives an equal number of lateral branches on both
sides. On average, every lateral branch gives 2 side branches. The most common site of descent of the side branches
is pons, while the rarest one was cerebellar pedicle.
