Systematization of the brain base arteries in ostrich (Struthio camelus)

ABSTRACT

Thirty ostrich (Struthio camelus) brains were used, injected with latex, to describe the arteries of the brain base.The largest occurrences of the arteries were The cerebral carotid artery (100%), the intercarotid anastomosis(100%). The caudal branch of the cerebral carotid artery was, on the right (R), developed (53.3%) and vestigial(46.7%); on the left (L), developed (66.7%) and vestigial (33.3%). The ventral tectal mesencephalic artery onthe R (53.3%), on the L (66.7%), direct branch of the cerebral carotid artery on the R (43.3%), on the L (30%)and, direct branch of the basilar artery (3.3%) in both antimeres. The basilar artery was a single vessel (80%),double in (13.3%) and “in island” formation (6.7%). The caudal ventral cerebellar artery was single (96.7%),double (3.3%) on the R and, single (93.3%), double (6.7%) on the L. The dorsal spinal artery was a collateralbranch of the caudal ventral cerebellar artery on the R (96.7%), on the L (93.3%). The ventral spinal artery wasdouble (90%) and single (10%). The rostral branch of the cerebral carotid artery (100%). The caudal cerebralartery, on the R, was double (90%) and single (10%); on the L, was double (53.3%) and single (46.7%). Themiddle cerebral artery was a single vessel (100%). The cerebroethmoidal artery was single (100%). The rostralcerebral artery was single (90%), double (10%) on the R and single (96.7%), double (3.3%) on the L. Thecerebral arterial circle was rostrally open (100%) and, caudally, open (80%) and closed (20%).