Distribution and territory of the cerebellar arteries on the opossum brain (Didelphis albiventris)

Utilizaram-se 30 encéfalos de Didelphis albiventris, com o sistema arterial preenchido com Látex 603 pigmentado. Sistematizaram-se as artérias cerebelares rostral, média e caudal, determinando a área territorial de irrigação. A artéria cerebelar rostral originou-se como continuação natural do ramo terminal da artéria basilar em 93,3% dos casos, bilateralmente, percorrendo as faces rostral e dorsal dos hemisférios cerebelares, formando por sobre estes uma alça. A artéria cerebelar média, à direita, mostrou-se dupla em 70% e ímpar em 30% das peças; à esquerda, dupla em 56,7% e ímpar em 43,3% dos achados. A artéria cerebelar caudal apresentou-se, à direita, ímpar em 93,3% e dupla em 6,7% das peças; à esquerda, ímpar em 86,7% e dupla em 13,3% das amostras.The rostral, middle and caudal cerebellar arteries were studied on the surface of the brain in 30 Didelphis albiventris, with the arterial system filled with colored latex. The arteries were systematized and the territorial area irrigation was determined. The rostral cerebellar artery was originated as a natural continuation of the terminal branch of the basilar artery in 93.3% of the cases, bilaterally, running to the rostral and dorsal surfaces of the lateral cerebellar hemispheres and forming a loop right above it. The middle cerebellar artery on the right side was seen double in 70% and single in 30% of the preparations and on the left side double in 56.7% and single in 43.3% of the findings. The caudal cerebellar artery was present single on the right side in 93.3% and double in 6.7% of the pieces and on the left side single in 86.7% and double in 13.3% of the cases