Arteries of the Brain

The brain receives its blood supply from the carotid arteries and the vertebrobasilar
system.

The internal carotid artery enters the cranium through the carotid canal.

The vertebrobasilar system arises from the vertebral arteries and forms the basilar
artery in the brainstem, before joining the circle of Willis at the base of the skull.

The circle of Willis lies at the base of the brain and is the junction of the internal
carotids and basilar artery. It conducts the majority of blood flow to the brain.

The carotid artery supplies the eye, frontal cortex, and portions of the temporal and
parietal lobes.

The opthalmic artery is a branch of the internal carotid artery that arises proximally to
the circle of Willis.

Clinical Correlate: A branch of the opthalmic artery is the central artery of the retina.
Occlusion → blindness.

The anterior choroidal artery is a branch of the internal carotid. It contributes blood
supply to the lateral geniculate body, globus pallidus, and posterior limb of the internal
capsule.

The internal carotid gives off the anterior cerebral (ACA) artery and posterior
communicating artery. The internal carotid then continues as the middle cerebral
artery.

The vertebrobasilar system gives rise to the posterior cerebral artery (PCA).

The posterior communicating artery connects the PCA to the internal carotid and circle
of Willis.

The posterior communicating artery supplies the hypothalamus and ventral thalamus.

Clinical Correlate: The posterior communicating artery is the second most common
location for an aneurysm in the circle of Willis, resulting in third-nerve palsy due to
compression of CN III.

The anterior cerebral artery (ACA) supplies the anteromedial surface of the cerebral
hemisphere.
The ACA has two continuous segments, designated A1 and A2. The anterior
communicating artery connects both ACAs at this junction.

Clinical Correlate: The anterior communicating artery is the most common location
for an aneurysm in the circle of Willis, resulting in bitemporal hemianopsia.

The ACA supplies the olfactory bulb and tract, as well as motor-sensory cortices for the
contralateral leg and foot.

Penetrating branches of the ACA are the medial striate arteries, which supply the
portions of the caudate, putamen, and internal capsule.

The middle cerebral artery (MCA) supplies the lateral portion of the cerebral
hemisphere.

Structures supplied include Broca’s area, Wernicke’s area, and motor-sensory cortices of
the contra lateral trunk-arm-face.

Clinical Correlate: Aphasia means the loss of the ability to use spoken or written
words and can refer to a wide variety of clinical syndromes. Occlusion of the MCA is a
common cause of aphasia and depending on anatomical location can cause different
clinical constellations.

Lenticulostriate (lateral striate) arteries are penetrating branches of the MCA that
supply the internal capsule and structures of the basal ganglia.

The lenticulostriate arteries are very frequently involved in lacunar strokes.

The posterior cerebral artery (PCA) is connected to the circle of Willis (internal carotid)
via the posterior communicating artery.

The PCA supplies the midbrain, lateral and medial geniculate bodies, and occipital lobe.