Neurovascular Anatomy: Internal Carotid Artery: Middle Cerebral Artery

Middle 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 temporal lobe, anterolateral frontal lobe, and parietal lobe.
  • Perforating branches supply the posterior limb of the internal capsule, part of the head and body of the caudate and globus pallidus.
  • Unilateral occlusion of Middle Cerebral Arteries at the stem (proximal M1 segment) results in:
    • Contralateral hemiplegia affecting face, arm, and leg (lesser).
    • Homonymous hemianopia - Ipsilateral head/eye deviation.
    • If on left: global aphasia.
  • Usually occlusion is embolic in nature - thrombotic occlusion more common in carotids.
 































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