Anterior inferior cerebellar artery
The anterior inferior cerebellar artery (AICA) is one of three pairs of arteries that supplies blood to the cerebellum.
| Anterior inferior cerebellar artery | |
|---|---|
The three major arteries of the cerebellum: the SCA, anterior inferior cerebellar artery (AICA), and PICA. | |
Diagram of the arterial circulation at the base of the brain (inferior view). AICA is labeled at lower right. | |
| Details | |
| Source | Basilar artery |
| Branches | Labyrinthine artery |
| Vein | Inferior cerebellar veins |
| Supplies | Anteroinferior surface of the cerebellum, the flocculus, middle cerebellar peduncle and inferolateral portion of the pons. |
| Identifiers | |
| Latin | arteria cerebelli inferior anterior |
| TA98 | A12.2.08.019 |
| TA2 | 4550 |
| FMA | 50544 |
| Anatomical terminology | |
It arises from the basilar artery on each side at the level of the junction between the medulla oblongata and the pons in the brainstem. It has a variable course, passing backward to be distributed to the anterior part of the undersurface of the cerebellum, anastomosing with both the posterior inferior cerebellar (PICA) branch of the vertebral artery and the superior cerebellar artery.
It also gives off the internal auditory or labyrinthine artery in most cases; however, the labyrinthine artery can less commonly emerge as a branch of the basilar artery.
The amount of tissue receiving blood supply from the AICA is variable, depending upon whether the PICA is more or less dominant, but usually includes the anteroinferior surface of the cerebellum, the flocculus, middle cerebellar peduncle and inferolateral portion of the pons.