Branches and distribution of cortical arteries


middle cerebral artery

Branches

  • Orbitofrontal (1)
  • Pre-rolandic (2)
  • Rolandic branches ( 3)
  • Anterior and posterior parietal branches (4)
  • Anterior temporal (5)
  • Posterior temporal (7)
  • Angular artery
  • Lenticulostriate arteries (central arteries)

I


Anatomical areas supplied
Functional areas supplied
Effects of occlusion
  • Lateral parts of the orbital gyri
  • Inferior and middle frontal gyri
  • Most of the pre-central
  • Post central gyri
  • Superior and inferior parietal lobules
  • Superior and middle temporal gyri.
  • The motor and pre-motor areas
  • The somato-sensory
  • Auditory areas
  • Motor speech
  • Sensory speech
  • Pre-frontal area
  • A severe contralateral hemiplegia, most marked in the upper extremity and face
  • Contralateral sensory impairement worse in the upper part of the body
  • Severe global aphasia

Anterior Cerebral artery    

Branches

  • The medial striate (recurrent artery of Heubner)
  • Orbital branches (1)
  • Frontopolar artery (2)
  • Callosomarginal artery (3)
  • Pericallosal artery (4)

 


Anatomical areas supplied
Functional areas supplied
Effects of occlusion
  • Orbital and  medial surfaces of the frontal lobe.
  • Paracentral lobule
  • Cingulate gyrus.
  • Medial surface of the parietal lobe
  • Motor and sensory for lower limb
  • Higher cognitive in pre-frontal areas
  • Cognitive impairment
  • contralateral hemiplegia, which is greatest in the lower limb.
  • Impaired sensation in the lowe limb

     
The posterior cerebral artery  

Branches

  • Long quadrigeminal
  • Thalamogeniculate
  • parieto-occipital
  • Calcarine
  • Posterior temporal
  • Anterior temporal
  • Mesencephalic
Anatomical areas supplied
Functional areas supplied
Effects of occlusion
  • Inferior temporal gyrus
  • Occipital lobe
  • Midbrain
  • Choroid plexus of the third and lateral ventricles
  • Splenium of the corpus callosum. 

  • The visual cortex
  • Crus cerebri
  • Limbic lobe
  • Peripheral blindness with macular area sparing
  • Superior alternating hemiplegia
  • Limbic dysfunction

Summary of cortical blood supply    

Region

Anterior cerebral artery

Middle cerebral artery

Posterior cerebral artery