What is "labyrinthine artery"

n. a branch of the basilar artery that supplies the labyrinth [syn: artery of the labyrinth, internal auditory artery]

The labyrinthine artery (auditory artery, internal auditory artery), a long slender branch of the anterior inferior cerebellar artery (85%-100% cases) or basilar artery (<15% cases), arises from near the middle of the artery; it accompanies the vestibulocochlear nerve through the internal acoustic meatus, and is distributed to the internal ear.