In human anatomy, the basilar artery is one of the arteries that supplies the brain with oxygen-rich blood. It arises from the confluence of the two vertebral arteries at the level of the medulla oblongata. It ascends in the central gutter (sulcus basilaris) inferior to the pons and divides into the two posterior cerebral arteries. From the basilar artery arise branches for the supply of the cerebellum (largely via the anterior inferior cerebellar artery), as well as smaller branches for the supply of the pons.
Thrombosis of the basilar artery can be life-threatening, as it leads to hypoxia and ischemia of the brainstem. Poor prognoses are common and these can include paralysis of all extremities, heavy disturbances in sensation, difficulty in swallowing and difficulty in respiration.

Basilar Artery Migraine - A good, though brief, description of basilar artery migraine from Vanderbilt Medical Center.
ChiroWeb - Overview of the symptoms and diagnosis of basilar migraines.
Karyn S. Huntting's Basilar Artery Migraine Page - Includes information on symptoms, diagnosis, and treatment; forum.
Meta Description: [ The Basilar Artery Migraine (BAM) Page is the only site on the Internet devoted to this neurological disorder, also known as Bickerstaff's Syndrome and Vertebrobasilar Insufficiency. Find information on symptoms, diagnosis, treatment, and more, as well as interactive features like the BAM Discuss... ]
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