The basilar artery is a single large artery formed by the merging of the two vertebral arteries at the base of the brainstem. It runs along the front surface of the pons and supplies blood to critical structures including the brainstem, cerebellum, and parts of the cerebral hemispheres. In transcranial Doppler ultrasound, the basilar artery is evaluated through the suboccipital window, where the transducer is placed at the back of the head below the skull base. Abnormal flow velocities in the basilar artery can indicate stenosis, vasospasm, or vertebrobasilar insufficiency, conditions that can cause dizziness, vision changes, and stroke.
Sonography Term