The aim of this study was to describe the main branches of the basilar artery, formation of the arterial circuit and the morphometry of the brain in adult crossbreed horses of both sexes. The setting was made by plastic tube inserted into the common carotid artery with 10% formaldehyde solution. After fixed, latex solution stained with pigment was injected. Craniotomy, morphometry of the brain and dissection were made to identify the main branches of the basilar arteries and the formation of the arterial circuit. The mean and standard error of the mean of the basilar artery was 3.629 cm ± 0.1550 in males and 4.423 cm ± 0.1990 in females (p=0.0037). In all animals the basilar artery originated from the fusion of the vertebral arteries giving rise to caudal cerebellar arteries, different numbers of branches to bulbus and pons, terminal branches and rostral cerebellar arteries. The arteries of the base of the brain depended on the carotid and vertebral-basilar systems. The brain circuit was closed rostrally and caudally in all horses.
arterial circuit; brain; horse