Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Microsurgical anatomy of VII and VIII cranial nerves and related arteries in the cerebellopontine angle

Anatomie microchirurgicale des relations des nerfs crâniens VII et VIII avec les artères dans l'angle ponto-cérébelleux

  • Original Articles
  • Published:
Surgical and Radiologic Anatomy Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Summary

The relationships of VII and VIII cranial nerves and related arteries are reviewed in 26 preparations by microdissection techniques. These vessels may be grouped in large (AICA, PICA), medium (LA, SA, CSA, RPI) and small calibre (vasa nervorum, radicullar and medullar branches). The importance of these structures in acoustic neuroma surgery, vestibular neurectomy and cross-compression syndromes is discussed. “Vascular loops” and “elongated arteries” are normal structures present at birth.

Résumé

En utilisant des techniques de microdissection, on a étudié les artères de l'angle ponto-cérébelleux en relation avec les nerfs crâniens VII et VIII dans 26 préparations. Les vaisseaux peuvent être classés en grand (AICA, PICA), moyen (LA, SA, CSA, RPI) et petit calibre (vasa nervorum, br. radiculaires et br. médullaires). On discute l'importance de ces structures dans la chirurgie du neurinome, les neurectomies vestibulaires et les syndromes par conflit vasculo-nerveux. On établit que les «boucles vasculaires» et les «artères élonguées» sont des structures normales présentes à la naissance.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Atkinson WJ (1949) Anterior inferior cerebellar artery. J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry 12: 137–151

    Google Scholar 

  2. Bouche J, Frech CH (1972) Les voies d'abord du rocher. Encycl Med Chir, Paris, ORL: 20052 A10,1

    Google Scholar 

  3. Boussens J, Caille JM, Koehler R, Boyer M, Piton J, Bisch X, Martin PL (1972) A propos de la vascularisation du conduit auditif interne. Cah ORL (Montpellier) 7: 763–774

    Google Scholar 

  4. Brunsteins DB, Castañón JA (1985) Vías de abordaje del conducto auditivo interno. Asociación Rioplatense de Anatomía. Publicaciones (Abstracts) XIV: 107.

    Google Scholar 

  5. Brunsteins DB, Ferreri AJM (1986) Técnica anatómica para el estudio del sistema arterial del meato auditivo interno y regiones adyacentes. Asociación Rioplatense de Anatomía. Publicaciones (Abstracts) XV: 143.

    Google Scholar 

  6. Charachon R (1961) Antomie de l'artère auditive interne chez l'homme. Thèse Lyon

  7. De la Cruz A, Mc Elveen J (1984) Hearing preservation in vestibular neurectomy. Laringoscope, 94: 874–877

    Google Scholar 

  8. Ferrari Lelli G (1939) Comportamento dell'arteria uditiva interna e dei suoi rami labirintici nell 'uomo. Z Anat Ent 110: 48–80

    Google Scholar 

  9. Fisch U (1968) L'anatomie chirurgicale du système artériel du conduit auditif interne chez l'homme. Rev Laryng 89: 659–671

    Google Scholar 

  10. Gandolfi A, Zini C, Pasanisi E (1986) La décompression neurovasculaire dans les conflits vasculo-nerveux. Rev Laryng 107: 239–241

    Google Scholar 

  11. Gardner WJ (1962) Hemifacial spasm: a reversible pathophysiologic state. J Neurosurg 19: 240–247

    Google Scholar 

  12. Gardner WJ (1962) Concerning the mechanism of trigeminal neuralgia and hemifacial spasm. J Neurosurg 19: 947–957

    Google Scholar 

  13. Gros C, Ben Rhouma T (1975) Conflit artère nerf. Atteinte du groupe acoustico-facial. Neurochirurgie 21: 329–336

    Google Scholar 

  14. Guerrier Y, Villacèque G (1949) Origine et comportement des artères cérébelleuses moyenne et auditive interne. CR Ass Anat, 36 Réunion: 377–382

    Google Scholar 

  15. Guerrier Y, Basseres B, Guerrier JM, Fuentes JM, Charlin B (1980) Les syndromes de l'angle ponto-cérébelleux révélateurs d'un conflit artère-nerf. Editions médicales Specia, Paris

    Google Scholar 

  16. Guerrier Y (1984) Les conflits artèresnerfs dans l'angle ponto-cérébelleux et leurs bases anatomiques. Rev Laryng 105: 35–39

    Google Scholar 

  17. Iwakuma A, Nakamura N, Matsumoto A (1982) Hemifacial spasm: comparison of three different operative procedures in 110 patients. J Neurosurg 57 : 753–756

    Google Scholar 

  18. Jannetta PJ (1975) Neurovascular cross-compression in patients with hiperactive dysfunction symptoms of the eight cranial nerve. Surgical Forum 26: 467–469

    Google Scholar 

  19. Jannetta PJ, Abbasy M, Maroon JC, Ramos FM, Albin MS (1977) Etiology and definitive microsurgical treatment in 47 patients with hemifacial spasm. J Neurosurg 47: 321–328

    Google Scholar 

  20. Jannetta PJ, Moller M, Moller AR (1984) Disabling positional vertigo. The New Engl J Med 310: 1700–1705.

    Google Scholar 

  21. Konaschko PJ (1927) Die Arteria auditiva interna des Menschen und irhe Labyrinthaste. Zschr Anat Ent Gesch 83: 241–268

    Google Scholar 

  22. Kaye AH, Adams CBT (1981) Hemifacial spasm. J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry 44: 1100–1103

    Google Scholar 

  23. Levin NA (1964) Die Vaskularisation des Ohrlabyrinthes beim Menschen. Anat Anz Bd 114: s 337–352

    Google Scholar 

  24. Leclercq TA, Hill C, Grisoli F (1980) Retromastoid microsurgical approach to vascular compression of the eight cranial nerve. Laringoscope 90: 1101–1107

    Google Scholar 

  25. Lister JR, Rhoton Jr, Matsushima T, Peace DA (1982) Microsurgical anatomy of the posterior inferior cerebellar artery. Neurosurgery 10, 2: 170–199

    Google Scholar 

  26. Loeser JD, Chen J (1983) Hemifacial spasm. Neurosurgery 13, 2: 141–146

    Google Scholar 

  27. Maroon JC (1978) Hemifacial spasm: a vascular cause. Arch Neurol 35 : 481–483

    Google Scholar 

  28. Martin RG, Grant JL, Peace D, Theiss C, Rhoton Jr (1980) Microsurgical relationships of the anterior inferior cerebellar artery and the facial vestibulocochlear nerve complex. Neurosurgery 6: 463–507

    Google Scholar 

  29. Mazzoni A (1969) Internal auditory canal: arterial relations at the porus acusticus. Ann Otol Rhinol Laryngol 78 : 797–814

    Google Scholar 

  30. Mazzoni A, Hansen CC (1970) Surgical anatomy of the arteries of the internal auditory canal. Arch Otolaryn 91: 128–135

    Google Scholar 

  31. Mazzoni A (1972) Internal auditory artery supply to the petrous bone. Ann Otol 81: 13–21

    Google Scholar 

  32. Mercier P, Fischer G (1982) Microanatomical study of the arterial blood supply of the facial nerve in the pontocerebellar angle. Anat Clin 3: 263–270

    Google Scholar 

  33. Moller A, Jannetta PJ (1985) Hemifacial spasm: results of electrophysiologic recording during microvascular decompression operations. Neurology 35 : 969

    Google Scholar 

  34. Moret J (1982) Vascularization of the ear. J Neuroradiol 9: 209–226

    Google Scholar 

  35. Nabeya DA (1923) A study in the comparative anatomy of the blood vascular system of the internal ear in homo (Japanese). Acta Scholae Med Univ Imper Kyoto 6: 1–132

    Google Scholar 

  36. Nager GT (1954) Origins and relations of the internal auditory artery and the subarcuate artery. Ann Otol 63: 51–54

    Google Scholar 

  37. Ouaknine EG (1981) Microsurgical anatomy of the arterial loops in the pontocerebellar angle and in the internal acoustic meatus in the cranial nerves. Sammi-Jannetta, Springer Verlag, New York: 378–390

    Google Scholar 

  38. Ouaknine EG, Robert F, Molina P, Hardy J (1980) Geniculate neuralgia and audiovestibular disturbances due to compression of the intermediate and eight nerves by the posterior inferior cerebellar artery. Surg Neurol 13: 147–150

    Google Scholar 

  39. Ravon R, Treve R, Lepetit JM, Bokor J, Tassou P, Dany A (1977) Syndrome de l'angle ponto-cérébelleux par conflit vasculo-nerveux. Sem Hôp Paris 53: 22–23

    Google Scholar 

  40. Rhoton AL (1986) Microsurgical anatomy of the brain stem surface facing an acoustic neuroma. Surg Neurol 25: 326–339

    Google Scholar 

  41. Ruby JR, Jannetta PJ (1975) Hemifacial spasm: ultrastructural changes in the facial nerve induced by neurovascular compression. Surg Neurol 4 : 369–370

    Google Scholar 

  42. Sammi M, Ohlemutz A (1981) Early experiences in vascular decompression for vestibulocochlear malfunction in the cranial nerves. Springer Verlag, New York: 556–558

    Google Scholar 

  43. Shalit MN, Reichenthal E (1978) Anomalous anterior inferior cerebellar artery simulating intracanalicular acoustic neuroma. Surg Neurol 10: 337–339

    Google Scholar 

  44. Siebenmann F (1893) Die Blutgefaße im Labyrinth des Menschlichen. Ohres, Wiesbaden

    Google Scholar 

  45. Silverstein H, Norrel H, Haberkamp TA (1987) A comparison of retromastoid IAC, retrolabyrinthine and middle fossa vestibular neurectomy for treatment of vertigo. Laryngoscope 97: 165–173

    Google Scholar 

  46. Sunderland S (1945) The arterial relations of the internal auditory meatus. Brain 68: 23–27

    Google Scholar 

  47. Sunderland S (1948) Neurovascular relation and anomalies at the base of brain. J Neurol Psychiatr 11: 243–257

    Google Scholar 

  48. Watt JC, Mc Killop AN (1935) Relations of arteries to roots of nerve in posterior cranial fossa in man. Arch Surg 30: 336–345

    Google Scholar 

  49. Wigand ME, Haid T, Breg M, Rettinger G (1982) The enlarged transtemporal approach to the cerebello-pontine angle. Acta Otorhinol ital 2: 571–582

    Google Scholar 

  50. Wigand ME, Rettinger G, Haid T, Berg M (1984) Traction et compression vasculaire des nerfs facial et cochléovestibulaire. Rev Laryngol 105: 43–46

    Google Scholar 

  51. Zini C, Sanna M, Portmann M, Mazzoni A, Gandolfi A, Pasanisi E (1986) La chirurgie du neurinome de l'acoustique. Rev Laryngol 107: 245–254

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Anatomy, UD Prof I Caplan, University of Buenos Aires, Argentina

    DB Brunsteins & AJM Ferreri

Authors
  1. DB Brunsteins
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. AJM Ferreri
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Additional information

This work was supported by a grant from the AJ Roemmers Foundation

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Brunsteins, D., Ferreri, A. Microsurgical anatomy of VII and VIII cranial nerves and related arteries in the cerebellopontine angle. Surg Radiol Anat 12, 259–265 (1990). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01623700

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01623700

Key words

Search

Navigation