Blood Supply to the Brain
•Anterior Cerebral Artery (ACA)
–Frontal, parietal, and basal ganglia
•Middle Cerebral Artery (MCA)
–Lateral surfaces of the frontal, parietal, temporal and occipital lobes
•Posterior Cerebral Artery (PCA)
–Midbrain, thalamus, occipital lobe, medial and inferior temporal lobe
Basilar Artery
–Includes anterior inferior cerebellar artery (AICA), superior cerebellar artery
–Supplies pons and cerebellum
–Primary blood supply to midbrain
–Complete occlusion can be fatal
Circle of Willis
•Ring of 9 arteries
•Provides multiple sources of circulation/blood supply to the cerebrum
Vertebral Arteries
–Carry one-third of blood supply to the brain
–Originate from the subclavian artery
–Branches into three parts
•Anterior Spinal
•Posterior Spinal
•Posterior Inferior Cerebellar Artery (PICA)
–All three branches supply blood to medulla
–PICA supplies inferior cerebellum
Internal Carotid Arteries
–Originate from the common carotid
–Becomes the posterior communicating arteries (PCA)
–Divides into anterior and middle cerebral arteries