Basilar Artery

What is the basilar artery?

The basilar artery is a blood vessel at the back of your brain. It supplies oxygen-rich blood to portions of your brain and central nervous system.

The basilar is the main artery that carries blood to the back portion of your brain. It forms where the blood vessels that extend through your spinal cord (vertebral arteries) come together. The basilar artery and all its branches are called the vertebrobasilar system.

What does the basilar artery do?

The basilar artery carries oxygen-rich blood to the:

• Brainstem, which regulates functions such as heart rate, sleeping and breathing.
• Cerebellum, which controls voluntary functions such as movements, speech and balance.
• Occipital lobes, which help your brain process what you see.

Where is the basilar artery located?

The basilar artery is at the front of your brainstem. Your brainstem is the stalk-like portion of your brain that connects your brain and spinal cord.

What are the basilar artery branches?

Your basilar artery has several branches:

• Cerebellar arteries connect the basilar artery to the cerebellum.
• Pontine arteries connect the basilar artery to the pons, a group of nerves in the brainstem that carries messages to different parts of your brain.
• Posterior cerebral arteries connect the basilar artery to your occipital lobes and temporal lobes, which help you process sights and sounds.

What are the common conditions and disorders that affect the basilar artery?

Several conditions may disrupt blood flow in the basilar artery, including:

• Aneurysm: A bulge in a blood vessel in your brain, which can lead to life-threatening bleeding if it ruptures.
• Arteriovenous malformation (AVM): An irregular tangle of blood vessels that disrupts blood flow, mostly occurring in your brain or spinal cord.
• Intracranial atherosclerosis: When a fatty substance called plaque builds up in your brain’s arteries, leading to narrowed or blocked arteries.
• Stroke: Life-threatening disruption in blood flow to your brain, often caused by a blockage, blood clot or ruptured aneurysm.
• Thrombus: An irregular clump of blood (blood clot) that forms in veins or arteries.
• Transient ischemic attack (TIA): A temporary blockage in blood flow to the brain that causes stroke-like systems but doesn’t cause permanent damage.
• Vertebrobasilar insufficiency: Reduced or stopped blood flow in the back of your brain, increasing your risk of a TIA or stroke.

What are the common signs or symptoms of problems with the basilar artery?

Any disruption to blood flow in your brain is an emergency. Brain cells can die quickly without oxygen and other nutrients, leading to long-term brain damage.

Call 911 if you experience any symptoms of disrupted blood flow in your brain, including:

• Balance problems or sudden loss of coordination.
• Confusion or disorientation.
• Difficulty understanding others.
• New or sudden vision loss.
• Numbness or weakness in one arm, leg or one side of your face.
• Severe headaches.

You also may experience nausea or vomiting, which typically are accompanied by one or more additional signs of disrupted blood flow to the brain.

What simple lifestyle changes keep brain arteries healthy?

You can keep your brain and basilar artery healthy by making lifestyle changes, such as:

• Achieving and maintaining a healthy body weight for your age, sex and body type.
• Aiming to keep your total cholesterol under 240 mg/dL, though your doctor may recommend a lower target based on your personal risk factors.
• Controlling your blood pressure by keeping it under 140/90 mmHg.
• Exercising regularly, incorporating both strength training and aerobic exercise.
• Managing any health conditions, such as diabetes or heart disease, by following your healthcare provider’s treatment plan and taking all medications as prescribed.
• Quitting smoking or using tobacco products.

A note from Cleveland Clinic

The basilar artery is the main artery that supplies blood to the back portion of your brain. It carries oxygen-rich blood to your brainstem, cerebellum and occipital lobes. Several conditions, such as blood clots or aneurysms, can disrupt blood flow in your brain. If you experience any symptoms of these conditions, call 911 or go to your nearest emergency department right away.