Journal of Morphological Sciences
http://www.jms.periodikos.com.br/article/587cb4997f8c9d0d058b4780
Journal of Morphological Sciences
Original Article

A Systematic study of the brain base arteries in broad-snouted caiman (Caiman latirostris)

L. Almeida; R. Campos

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Abstract

The objective of this study was to describe and systematize the encephalic arterial vascularization of this reptile, by providing a standard irrigation model with its major variations. Thirty broad-snouted caiman heads and two whole specimens were used. The arterial system was filled with red-colored latex. Only a single source of blood supply was observed in caimans and it originated from the left aortic arch. This vessel is called the azygos carotid artery. At the caudal base of the skull, ventral to the first cervical vertebrae, it divided into two internal carotid arteries. The internal carotid arteries divided into a rostral branch and a short caudal branch at the hypophysis level, which continued naturally as the caudal cerebral artery. The short caudal branch gave off its medium-caliber portion which, gave off the mesencephalic and the ventral rostral cerebellar arteries. Then this caudal branch anastomosed with its contralateral counterpart, forming the basilar artery. This artery followed the ventral median fissure of the medulla oblongata, giving off the ventral caudal cerebellar and dorsal spinal arteries, and abandoning the cranial cavity through the foramen magnum as the ventral spinal artery. The rostral branch gave off the middle cerebral, rostral cerebral and rostral communicating arteries. The middle cerebral artery arose from a network originated from one to five collateral branches of the rostral branch of the internal carotid artery. It was observed that the cerebral arterial circle was rostrally and caudally closed and, therefore, the cerebral blood supply was exclusively made by the carotid system.

Keywords

cerebral arteries, brain vascularization, reptiles, caiman latirostris, alligator
587cb4997f8c9d0d058b4780 jms Articles
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J. Morphol. Sci.

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