Abstract
The vertebral artery (VA) originates bilaterally from the subclavian artery. It runs posterosuperiorly behind the anterior scalene muscle commonly reaching the foramen of the transverse process of the sixth cervical vertebra. This first segment of the VA has been called V1. The VA runs, further, vertically (V2 segment) through the foramina of the transverse processes from C6 to C2, surrounded by the venous plexus. The spinal nerves lie behind. Between the foramina of C2 and C1, the artery curves laterally and somewhat anteriorly. Exiting from C1 begins the V3 segment, which curves backward, running in the sulcus of the posterior arch of C1. The artery forms then a second upward and forward curve and reaches the foramen magnum, where it penetrates the dura forming the last segment (V4). It is conceivable that these curves protect the VA, allowing it to accommodate more easily movements in the atlanto-occipital region (Fig. 6.1).
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Bradac, G.B. (2017). Extra- and Intracranial Vertebrobasilar Sector. In: Applied Cerebral Angiography. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-57228-4_6
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