Vertebrobasilar circulatory disorders

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Arteries of the brain

Vertebral column

Vertebrobasilar circulatory disorders are conditions in which blood supply to the back of the brain is disrupted.

See also:

• Transient ischemic attack
• Stroke

Vertebrobasilar insufficiency; Posterior circulation ischemia

The vertebrobasilar system is also called the back (posterior) circulation of the brain. This part of the brain contains structures that are crucial for keeping a person alive. For instance, the brainstem controls breathing and swallowing, among other things. Parts of the brain help with vision (occipital lobes) and movement coordination (cerebellum) are also located in the back of the brain.

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Three main blood vessels provide blood flow to the back of the brain:

• One basilar artery
• Two vertebral arteries

Many different conditions may cause blood flow in the back part of the brain to be reduced or stopped. The most common cause is a stroke due to hardening of the arteries (atherosclerosis).

Vertebrobasilar vascular disorders may also be caused by a tear (dissection) in an artery wall. Dissection can be caused by clogged arteries or injuries such as a car accident. However, most of the time, no apparent cause of dissection can be identified.

Other less common causes of vertebrobasilar vascular disorders include connective tissue diseases and vasculitis.

Review Date: 10/04/2010
Reviewed By: Daniel Kantor, MD, Medical Director of Neurologique, Ponte Vedra, FL and President of the Florida Society of Neurology (FSN). Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.

A.D.A.M., Inc. is accredited by URAC, also known as the American Accreditation HealthCare Commission (www.urac.org).