Cerebral arteries
Encyclopedia
Cerebral arteries describe three main pairs of arteries and their branches, which irrigate the cerebrum of the brain
. The three main arteries consist of the:
Both the ACA and MCA originate from the cerebral portion of internal carotid artery
, while PCA branches from the intersection of the posterior communicating artery
and the anterior portion of the basilar artery
. The three pairs of arteries are linked via the anterior communicating artery
and the posterior communicating arteries. All three arteries send out arteries that perforate brain in the medial central portions prior to branching and bifurcating further.
The arteries are usually divided into different segments from 1-4 or 5 to denote how far the level of the branch with the lower numbers denoting vessels closer to the source artery. Even though the arteries branching off these vessels retain some aspect of constancy in terms of size and position, a great amount of variety in topography, position, source and prominence nevertheless exists.
Brain
The brain is the center of the nervous system in all vertebrate and most invertebrate animals—only a few primitive invertebrates such as sponges, jellyfish, sea squirts and starfishes do not have one. It is located in the head, usually close to primary sensory apparatus such as vision, hearing,...
. The three main arteries consist of the:
- Anterior cerebral artery (ACA)
- Middle cerebral arteryMiddle cerebral artery-External links:*...
(MCA) - Posterior cerebral arteryPosterior cerebral artery-External links: - Posterior Cerebral Artery Stroke* at strokecenter.org* at State University of New York Upstate Medical University* at psyweb.com* at neuropat.dote.hu...
(PCA)
Both the ACA and MCA originate from the cerebral portion of internal carotid artery
Cerebral portion of internal carotid artery
The cerebral portion of internal carotid artery.—Having perforated the dura mater on the medial side of the anterior clinoid process, the internal carotid passes between the optic and oculomotor nerves...
, while PCA branches from the intersection of the posterior communicating artery
Posterior communicating artery
In human anatomy, the posterior communicating artery is one of a pair of right-sided and left-sided blood vessels in the circle of Willis. It connects the three cerebral arteries of the same side. Anteriorly, it connects to the internal carotid artery prior the terminal bifurcation of the ICA...
and the anterior portion of the basilar artery
Basilar artery
In human anatomy, the basilar artery is one of the arteries that supplies the brain with oxygen-rich blood.The two vertebral arteries and the basilar artery are sometimes together called the vertebrobasilar system, which supplies blood to the posterior part of circle of Willis and anastomoses with...
. The three pairs of arteries are linked via the anterior communicating artery
Anterior communicating artery
In human anatomy, the anterior communicating artery is a blood vessel of the brain that connects the left and right anterior cerebral arteries....
and the posterior communicating arteries. All three arteries send out arteries that perforate brain in the medial central portions prior to branching and bifurcating further.
The arteries are usually divided into different segments from 1-4 or 5 to denote how far the level of the branch with the lower numbers denoting vessels closer to the source artery. Even though the arteries branching off these vessels retain some aspect of constancy in terms of size and position, a great amount of variety in topography, position, source and prominence nevertheless exists.