The trigeminal artery arises from the primitive internal carotid artery during development, when the embryo is approximately 6 weeks old. The trigeminal artery then anastomoses with the basilar artery. At this point in development, the trigeminal artery serves as the main blood supply for the hindbrain, as other vessels in the region have yet to mature. As the internal carotid artery branches more caudally to form the posterior communicating artery, the trigeminal artery becomes less important in supplying blood and ultimately involutes. The time period from the initial development of the artery to its ultimate involution is only 7 to 10 days; if the artery has not involuted at the end of this period it persists into adulthood.
Persistent trigeminal artery
In around 0.1 to 0.6% of individuals, as sampled by magnetic resonance angiography, the trigeminal artery fails to involute and remains in the adult brain, in a condition called persistent trigeminal artery. This condition is more common in women than in men, with approximately 1.8 times as many women having the condition. Knowledge of a persistent trigeminal artery may be important in certain brain surgeries, as the condition is rare and an accidental cut to the artery could lead to hemorrhage. Although the discovery of a persistent trigeminal artery is sometimes an incidental finding, its presence is also associated with various pathological conditions, and must therefore be considered carefully when diagnosing these conditions.
Associated conditions
A persistent trigeminal artery is associated with an increased risk of aneurysm, though some studies have suggested that this finding may be an effect of selection bias, as most individuals do not undergo the tests necessary to identify the condition. Persistent trigeminal artery has been identified as a rare cause of trigeminal neuralgia, with 2.2% prevalence of persistent trigeminal artery among trigeminal neuralgia patients. Surgery to move the persistent trigeminal artery away from the trigeminal nerve has been successful in treating the trigeminal neuralgia in some cases. In some cases, presence of a persistent trigeminal artery concurs with hypoplasia of the basilar artery, in which case the internal carotid artery is responsible for most blood flow to the upper pons, cerebellum, midbrain, and parts of the temporal and occipital lobes, meaning that anything disrupting blood flow in the internal carotid artery could lead to ischemia in these regions. In addition, persistent trigeminal artery has been associated with vertebrobasilar insufficiency, brainstem ischemia, and carotid cavernous fistulae.
