RELATIONS OF THE INITIAL SEGMENT OF THE OCULOMOTOR NERVE AND ADJACENT ARTERIES IN FETAL AND ADULT PERIOD

Abstract

The relationship between the initial part of the oculomotor nerve and the posterior cerebral and superior cerebellar arteries is well understood, but there is still insufficient data about details of these relationships. The aim of this work was to examine the relationships of the initial segment of the oculomotor nerve with adjacent arteries in fetal and adult period. The examination was performed on 259 human brains (191 adults and 68 fetuses). Arteries in fetal brain were perfused with Micropaque and examined by photo film. Adult cases were examined during the forensic autopsy and then basis of the brain was photographed. The close relationship of the initial segment of the oculomotor nerve with basilar artery in 8.3%, with superior cerebellar artery in 17.3%, with posterior cerebral artery in 68.6% of cases was noted. The root of the nerve appeared above postcommunicating part of the posterior cerebral artery in 1.3% of cases and under the level of superior cerebellar artery in 1.6% of cases. The oculomotor nerve with two roots was noted in 2.6% of cases. Neurovascular relationship between oculomotor nerve and adjacent arteries, as morphological characteristic on the ventral side of the brain trunk, has pathoanatomical meaning by the nerve disfunction caused by compression