Walsh & Hoyt: Syndrome of the Anterior Inferior Cerebellar Artery

The anterior inferior cerebellar artery (AICA) supplies portions of the vestibular nuclei and the adjacent dorsolateral brain stem, and the inferior lateral cerebellum. The AICA is also the origin of the labyrinthine artery in most persons and also sends a twig to the cerebellar flocculus in the cerebellopontine angle. Consequently, ischemia in the distribution of the AICA may cause vertigo, vomiting, hearing loss, facial palsy, and ipsilateral limb ataxia, along with deficits in gaze-holding and pursuit as well as vestibular nystagmus. The ocular motor signs reflect a combination of involvement of the labyrinth, vestibular nuclei, and flocculus