The rete mirabile (“marvelous meshwork”). Left: Vesalius’s 1538 diagram, including the rete mirabile (yellow arrow). Right: the rete mirabile (rm) of a sheep. ba, Basilar artery; ci, internal carotid artery; cr, rostral cerebral artery; cm, middle cerebral artery; ma, maximillary artery; RZ, Retezuflüsse (rete tributaries).