The Cerebellopontile Angle, The Blood Supply of the Brain Stem and the Reticular Formation: Anatomical and Functional Correlations Relevant to Surgery of Acoustic Tumors

The cerebellopontile angle and the vascular supply of the adjacent brain stem and cerebellum are susceptible to compression and damage by tumor and may be injured, directly or indirectly, during surgery. Awareness of the normal anatomical features of the region is valuable to the neuropathologist, the neurosurgeon and the neuro-otologist. Following is the first of a two-part presentation which describes the anatomy of the cerebellopontile angle, the vascular supply of the brain stem and its pathophysiology