The inferolateral trunk: Encyclopedic review

The intracavernous branches of the internal carotid artery include two relatively small vessels—the inferolateral trunk and the meningohypophyseal trunk—that hold considerable anatomical and clinical importance. The aim of this concise review is to present the key anatomical features of the inferolateral trunk of the internal carotid artery, with particular attention to its clinical significance. The inferolateral trunk has fundamental importance as a potential and often underestimated collateral pathway between the internal carotid artery and the external carotid artery, and its role becomes particularly evident in pathological conditions as well as in the context of neurosurgical and endovascular procedures. • The paper reviews the anatomy, embryology, and branching patterns of the inferolateral trunk. • Key anatomical variations and embryological concepts of the inferolateral trunk are discussed. • The clinical significance of the inferolateral trunk as a collateral pathway is emphasized.