Human brainstem vessels

This atlas maps the blood supply of the human brainstem, covering its arteries, veins and capillary bed. It is intended as a reference for those studying brainstem disease. The new edition expands on the 1977 first edition by adding illustrations of the brainstem's surface veins, which were originally published in the author's earlier work on the superficial veins of the human brain (Springer, 1975). Readers are given a more detailed picture of the vessels on the brainstem's exterior.

The volume also includes a dedicated study of the pineal and collicular region. Its closing plates link the vascular territories to MRI images of vascular disease affecting the brainstem, showing how the anatomy appears in clinical imaging.

The book is aimed at neurosurgeons in particular, who are often more familiar with the nerves than with the vessels around them. Because the vessels are much more fragile than the nerves, the author argues that knowledge of this vascular system helps surgeons orient themselves, especially during endoscopic procedures.