Neurovascular Anatomy: Internal Carotid Artery: Anterior Cerebral Artery

Anterior Cerebral Artery

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Anterior Cerebral Artery - Coronal Plane

Move the cursor along the course of the anterior and middle cerebral artery and its branches to identify individual segments and their perfusion targets.

  • Supplies most of the medial surface of the cerebral cortex (anterior three fourths), frontal pole (via cortical branches), and anterior portions of the corpus callosum.
  • Perforating branches (including the recurrent artery of Heubner and Medial Lenticulostriate Arteries) supply the anterior limb of the internal capsule, the inferior portions of head of the caudate and anterior globus pallidus.
  • Bilateral occlusion of Anterior Cerebral Arteries at their stems results in infarction of the anteromedial surface of the cerebral hemispheres:
    • Paraplegia affecting lower extremities and sparing face/hands.
    • Incontinence
    • Abulic and motor aphasia
    • Frontal lobe Symptoms: personality change, contralateral grasp reflex.
  • Unilateral occlusion (distal to Ant. Comm. origin) of Anterior Cerebral Artery produces contralateral sensorimotor deficits mainly involving the lower extremity with sparing of face and hands (think of the humunculus).
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Internal Carotid sylvian m2 latlent latlent mca cort Cortical/M3 Segment Cortical Cortical/M3 Segment Sylvian/M2 Segment Horizontal/M1 Segment Horizontal/M1 Segment - MCA Ophthalmic A. Ophthalmic A. A1 Segment a1 segment Recurrent Artery of Heubner Anterior Communicating A, Pericallosal Artery Anterior Communicating Artery A1 Segment Recurrent Artery of Heubner Pericallosal Artery Internal Carotid