Which statement is NOT true about the vertebral arteries?
A) They arise as the first branch of the subclavian arteries.
B) They course toward the brain by passing through the upper four cervical vertebrae.
C) They pass superior to the atlas, wind around the lateral mass of the atlas, and enter the vertebral canal superior to the spinal cord.
D) They enter the skull through the foramen magnum to form the basilar artery, which supplies the structures in the posterior fossa.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Beyond their origin as the first branch of the subclavian arteries, the vertebral arteries on both sides pass cranially through the foramina of the transverse processes of the upper six cervical vertebrae. They wind around the lateral mass of the atlas and enter the vertebral canal anterior to the spinal cord. They then enter the skull through the foramen magnum and join to form the basilar artery.

Which Statement Is NOT True About the Vertebral Arteries