Objective: To observe and measure the inside diameter of basicranial arteries, the angulation of main arteries, the three dimensional image characteristic of internal carotid arteries and the anatomical variation of Willis circle.
Methods: The arteries of 30 formalin-fixed adult heads were injected with latex after which the caliber and characteristic of cerebral arteries were observed and measured. The three dimensional image characteristic of internal carotid arteries and its branches were measured using 3D-DSA.
Results: (1) Main artery caliber: origin of internal carotid artery (Left 5.12 +/- 1.48 mm; Right 5.11 +/- 1.42 mm); origin of middle cerebral artery (Left 2.93 +/- 1.44 mm; Right 2.92 +/- 1.46 mm); origin of anterior cerebral artery (Left 2.63 +/- 1.33 mm; Right 2.61 +/- 1.32 mm); origin of vertebral artery (Left 4.37 +/- 1.21 mm; Right 3.22 +/- 1.64 mm); origin of basilar artery (4.45 +/- 1.28 mm); origin of posterior cerebral artery (Left 2.62 +/- 1.36 mm; Right 2.61 +/- 1.22 mm). (2) The angulation of main arteries: C1, 2 of ICA and C4, 5 of ICA (Left 32 +/- 22 degrees; Right 36 +/- 28 degrees ); ICA and ACA (Left 43 +/- 26 degrees; Right 46 +/- 28 degrees). (3) The results show that anatomical and three dimensional image characteristic of internal carotid arteries have no difference (P > 0.05). (4) The anatomical variation of Willis circle: Type O (56.7%); Type A (16.7%); Type P (20.0%); Type AP (6.7%).
Conclusions: It is helpful to measure the inside diameter of basicranial arteries for the selection of various catheter in interventional neuroradiology, to observe the angulation of main arteries and the three dimensional image characteristic of internal carotid arteries for the moulding of various catheter in endovascular therapy and to master the anatomical variation of Willis circle for decreasing complications of endovascular treatment and judging prognosis of cerebrovascular diseases.