What is the course of the vertebral artery?

The vertebral artery is a vital vessel that supplies blood to the posterior portion of the brain and, specifically, the brainstem and cerebellum. Its course begins with the left and right vertebral arteries arising from the subclavian arteries and ascending through the cervical vertebra foramina, primarily in the transverse processes of the cervical vertebrae.

Upon reaching the cranial cavity, the vertebral arteries enter the skull through the foramen magnum. This foramen is a large opening at the base of the skull where the spinal cord connects to the brain. Within the cranial cavity, the two vertebral arteries converge and form the basilar artery at the base of the pons. This junction is crucial for the vascular supply of the brainstem and cerebellum.

The other options do not correctly describe the vertebral artery's anatomy or its pathways. The association of vertebral arteries with the carotid arteries is not accurate in the context of their primary function and anatomical course. The statement that the vertebral artery runs exclusively along the spine misses its important cranial course. Similarly, suggesting that its branches are limited to the cervical region does not capture the wider distribution of its branches that also supply the brain.