Morphometric Study of Basilar Artery in the Eastern Indian Population

INTRODUCTION: The basilar artery (BA) is formed by the fusion of right and left vertebral arteries and divides to form right and left posterior cerebral arteries. This study was done to provide a baseline database regarding length, mid-length diameter, level of origin, and level of termination of BA. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Thirty-eight formalin-fixed brains were obtained from cadavers dissected for undergraduate studies. The external length and the average external diameter of BA were measured by a digital Vernier caliper. Variation in origin and termination of BA was noted using magnifying glass. RESULTS: The length and diameter of the BA were 25.58 ± 3.57 mm and 3.05 ± 0.41 mm, respectively. The origin and termination of BA was normal in most cases. In two cases, the origin was above the pontomedullary junction, and in one case, it was below. In two cases, the termination was above the pontomesencephalic junction, and in one case, it was below. CONCLUSION: There was no gender predisposition in length and diameter of the basilar artery. The baseline data established in this study regarding length, diameter, level of origin and level of termination of basilar artery will help neurosurgeons and interventional radiologists to diagnose as well as plan and execute various vascular procedures such as shunting for the treatment of aneurysms and stenosis in the blood vessels of the posterior cranial fossa.