AB-PICA
Anterior Inferior Cerebellar Artery (AICA)[edit | edit source]
The Anterior Inferior Cerebellar Artery (AICA) is a crucial artery in the human brain that supplies blood to the cerebellum and parts of the brainstem. It is one of the three main arteries that provide blood to the cerebellum, the others being the Superior Cerebellar Artery (SCA) and the Posterior Inferior Cerebellar Artery (PICA).
Anatomy[edit | edit source]
The AICA typically arises from the basilar artery, which is a major blood vessel located at the base of the brain. The basilar artery itself is formed by the union of the two vertebral arteries.
Course[edit | edit source]
The AICA travels laterally from its origin on the basilar artery, passing over the pons and the cerebellopontine angle. It then courses around the brainstem to reach the anterior inferior portion of the cerebellum.
Branches[edit | edit source]
The AICA gives off several branches that supply the following structures:
- The anterior inferior portion of the cerebellum
- The flocculus, a small lobe of the cerebellum
- Parts of the pons and the medulla oblongata
Function[edit | edit source]
The primary function of the AICA is to supply oxygenated blood to the regions of the brain it serves. This includes parts of the cerebellum, which is responsible for coordinating voluntary movements, balance, and posture, as well as parts of the brainstem, which control vital functions such as breathing and heart rate.
Clinical Significance[edit | edit source]
Occlusion or blockage of the AICA can lead to a type of stroke known as an AICA syndrome. Symptoms of AICA syndrome may include:
- Vertigo
- Hearing loss
- Facial paralysis
- Ataxia, or lack of voluntary coordination of muscle movements
These symptoms occur due to the disruption of blood flow to the areas of the brain supplied by the AICA.
Related Pages[edit | edit source]
Search WikiMD
Ad.Tired of being Overweight? Try W8MD's physician weight loss program.
Semaglutide (Ozempic / Wegovy and Tirzepatide (Mounjaro / Zepbound) available.
Advertise on WikiMD
|
WikiMD's Wellness Encyclopedia |
| Let Food Be Thy Medicine Medicine Thy Food - Hippocrates |
Translate this page: - East Asian
中文,
日本,
한국어,
South Asian
हिन्दी,
தமிழ்,
తెలుగు,
Urdu,
ಕನ್ನಡ,
Southeast Asian
Indonesian,
Vietnamese,
Thai,
မြန်မာဘာသာ,
বাংলা
European
español,
Deutsch,
français,
Greek,
português do Brasil,
polski,
română,
русский,
Nederlands,
norsk,
svenska,
suomi,
Italian
Middle Eastern & African
عربى,
Turkish,
Persian,
Hebrew,
Afrikaans,
isiZulu,
Kiswahili,
Other
Bulgarian,
Hungarian,
Czech,
Swedish,
മലയാളം,
मराठी,
ਪੰਜਾਬੀ,
ગુજરાતી,
Portuguese,
Ukrainian
Medical Disclaimer: WikiMD is not a substitute for professional medical advice. The information on WikiMD is provided as an information resource only, may be incorrect, outdated or misleading, and is not to be used or relied on for any diagnostic or treatment purposes. Please consult your health care provider before making any healthcare decisions or for guidance about a specific medical condition. WikiMD expressly disclaims responsibility, and shall have no liability, for any damages, loss, injury, or liability whatsoever suffered as a result of your reliance on the information contained in this site. By visiting this site you agree to the foregoing terms and conditions, which may from time to time be changed or supplemented by WikiMD. If you do not agree to the foregoing terms and conditions, you should not enter or use this site. See full disclaimer.
Credits:Most images are courtesy of Wikimedia commons, and templates, categories Wikipedia, licensed under CC BY SA or similar.
Contributors: Prab R. Tumpati, MD
