Head and Neck Arterial Anatomy of Swine and Its Applications in Cerebral Arteriovenous Malformations

ObjectiveTo study anatomic characteristics of swine cerebral arteries and investigate applications in human cerebral arteriovenous malformations.MethodsHead and neck angiography and anatomization were observed in 6 domestic swine,and anatomic characteristics were observed then.ResultsIn swine,bilateral common carotid arteries originated from the brachiocephalic trunk,then issued the ascending pharyngeal and external arteries.The left vertebral artery originated from the left subclavian artery,while the right vertebral artery originated from costocervical trunk.The brain was mainly supplied by bilateral pharyngeal arteries.The pharyngeal arteries formed rete mirabile(RMB) inside sphenotic foramen between sphenoid saddle,then RMB issued bilateral internal carotid arteries supplying the brain and there was inter_communicant between bilateral RMB.The external arterial system formed communication with RMB,further with intracranial internal carotid arteries,by the means of ramus anastomoticus(RA) and arteria anastomotica(AA).There were also anastomoses between vertebral and occipital arteries and among intracranial arteries.ConclusionBased on cerebral arterial anatomic characteristics,the AVM model could be constructed in swine for experimental studies in hemodynamics,pathophysiology and embolic materials,and for interventional neurosurgeon trainings.Nevertheless,there are some insufficiencies in swine AVM model in terms of morphological and hemodynamic simulations of AVMs.