The brain is the control center of our body. To function properly, the brain needs a constant supply of oxygen-rich blood and nutrients. This important function is performed by the blood vessel system in our body. Today, we are going to talk about a special blood vessel in that system that plays a lesser-known but very important role. That is the Basilar Artery.
Simply put, what is the Basilar Artery?
Imagine that our brain is a big city. Just as there are main water pipes that supply water to this city, there are main blood vessels that supply blood to the brain. The basilar artery is like the main highway that supplies blood to the back of the brain .
It is formed by the joining of two major blood vessels (vertebral arteries) that run up our spine. In medicine, we call this basilar artery and all its branches the vertebrobasilar system.
What parts of the brain does this vein supply blood to?
The basilar artery is not just a blood vessel. It supplies oxygen-rich blood to several parts of the brain that are essential for our survival.
- Brainstem: This is the control room of our lives. It controls essential functions that we do unconsciously, such as heartbeat, breathing, and sleep.
- Cerebellum: This part controls your balance and finely coordinates your movements when you walk, run, catch a ball, and talk.
- Occipital Lobes: This part of the brain interprets what we see with our eyes, such as images, colors, and shapes, and provides vision.
What are the main branches of the basilar artery?
This main blood vessel branches off into smaller branches that supply blood to various parts of the body.
- Cerebellar arteries: These supply blood to the cerebellum.
- Pontine arteries: These supply blood to the pons, a bundle of nerves in the brainstem that carries messages between different parts of the brain.
- Posterior cerebral arteries: These supply blood to the posterior cranial nerves (for vision) and the cochlear nerves (for hearing).
What are the main medical conditions that can affect the basilar artery?
Even a small obstruction to the flow of blood in such an important blood vessel can have serious consequences. Let us simply understand some of such situations from the table below.
| Medical condition | Simply put... |
|---|---|
| Aneurysm | A blood vessel wall becomes weak and bulges like a balloon. If this bursts, bleeding into the brain can be life-threatening. |
| Arteriovenous malformation (AVM) | A tangled web of blood vessels, which obstructs normal blood flow. |
| Intracranial atherosclerosis | Fatty substances like cholesterol (plaque) build up inside the blood vessels, gradually narrowing the vessels. |
| Stroke | A blood clot blocks a vein or a vein bursts, cutting off blood flow to the brain and causing brain cells to die. This is life-threatening. |
| Blood clot (Thrombus) | An abnormal formation of a blood clot inside a blood vessel. This can completely block the flow of blood. |
| Transient Ischemic Attack (TIA) | A temporary interruption of blood flow to the brain. It can cause symptoms similar to a stroke, but it doesn't cause permanent damage. However, it is a serious warning sign that a major stroke is coming. |
A sign of danger! Be very careful about these signs
Any interruption of blood flow to the brain is a medical emergency . Brain cells can only survive for a short time without oxygen. Therefore, if you or someone you know suddenly experiences any of the following symptoms, go to the nearest hospital's Emergency Department (ETU) without delay.
Imagine your father suddenly slurring his words when he speaks, or his arm going numb. Don't dismiss it as normal. It could be a sign that blood flow to the brain has been disrupted.
| Warning feature | Description |
|---|---|
| Balance problems | Suddenly unable to walk, unable to control your body, feeling dizzy. |
| Confusion | Suddenly forgetting where you are, what time it is, and not being able to recognize familiar people. |
| Difficulty understanding what others are saying | Not being able to understand someone when they are speaking or not being able to speak, slurring words. |
| Sudden change in vision | Sudden loss of vision, blurred vision, or double vision in one or both eyes. |
| Numbness/numbness in the face, arm, or leg | This condition often occurs on one side of the body (e.g., left arm and left leg). |
| Sudden, severe headache | A severe headache, for no reason, like you've never had in your life. |
Sometimes these symptoms can be accompanied by nausea and vomiting , so don't ignore any of these symptoms.
So how do we keep this important blood vessel healthy?
The good news is that making small changes to our lifestyle can greatly reduce the risk of serious conditions like stroke. These things help keep not only your basilar artery, but your entire heart and vascular system healthy.
- Maintain a healthy body weight: Try to maintain a healthy weight for your height and age.
- Control your blood pressure: Try to keep your blood pressure below 140/90 mmHg. If you have other conditions, such as diabetes, your doctor may tell you to keep it even lower.
- Control your cholesterol: Try to keep your total cholesterol level below 240 mg/dL. However, your doctor will give you a specific target based on your risk factors.
- Exercise regularly: Do an exercise like walking, running, or swimming for at least 30 minutes 5 days a week.
- Control diabetes and heart disease: If you have any of these conditions, take your doctor's prescribed medications on time. Follow their instructions.
- Avoid smoking completely: Smoking is the biggest damage you can do to your blood vessels. Quit it today.
The most important thing is to talk to your family doctor to make sure all of this is right for you. He or she will examine your health and give you the advice that is right for you.
Take-Home Message
- The basilar artery is a blood vessel essential to the survival of the back of our brain.
- Symptoms such as sudden weakness on one side of the body, difficulty speaking, changes in vision, and difficulty walking may be signs of a stroke.
- If such symptoms appear, take the patient to the nearest hospital's Emergency Treatment Unit (ETU) without delay. Time is of the essence here.
- This risk can be reduced by adopting a healthy lifestyle (good diet, exercise, and avoiding smoking) and properly controlling diseases such as diabetes, high blood pressure, and cholesterol.
- If you have any concerns about your health, talk to your doctor.
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