Microanatomy of the Anterior Inferior Cerebellar Artery in Cerebellopintine Angle

Objective To investigate the microsurgical anatomy of the anterior inferior cerebellar artery (AICA) in CPA.Methods The anterior inferior cerebellar artery were studied on 44 side of 22 adult head specimens with surgical microscope.Results ① There were 41 anterior inferior cerebellar arteries on 44 sides.The basilar artery can be divided into three equal segments from cranial to caudal.The number of AICA originating from the middle and inferior segment of the basilar artery were 34 and 77 respectively.② The number of AICAs which were posterior and medial to the abducent nerve were 34 and 5 respectively and 2 AICAs ran across the abducent nerve.③ Among 41 AICAs,16 were posterior to Ⅶ and Ⅷ and 19 ran across Ⅶ and Ⅷ.④The number of artery loops postolateral and posterior to the trigeminal nerve root were 15 and 9 respectively while only 2 artery loops were clorsal to the trigeminal nerve.Conclusion AICA is anatomically closely related to the abducent nerve,facial nerve,trigeminal nerve and vestibular nerve in CPA,which means nerves and blood vessels might compress each other ,leading to diseases.