Which artery is formed by division of the basilar artery and continues to the back of the brain?

• A. Posterior cerebral artery
• B. Superior cerebellar artery
• C. Basilar artery
• D. Anterior inferior cerebellar artery

Answer: (A)

The key idea is how the back part of the brain gets its major blood supply. The basilar artery runs along the ventral surface of the brainstem and ends by splitting into two posterior cerebral arteries. These posterior cerebral arteries then project to the posterior aspects of the brain, wrapping around the midbrain to reach the occipital lobes and the posterior temporal regions. So, the artery formed by the division of the basilar artery and that continues to the back of the brain is the posterior cerebral artery. Other branches like those supplying the cerebellum come off the basilar earlier but do not form the posterior circulation that extends to the occipital/posterior brain.