Basic Neuroscience · Neuroanatomy
Arterial Supply
Arterial supply of high-yield deep structures, plus a vessel-by-vessel map of the major cerebral arteries and their territories.
Vascular supply of important brain structures
| Structure | Arterial supply |
|---|---|
| Thalamus | Anterior (language–memory): anterior thalamoperforating a. = polar a. (PCOM) Medial (arousal–memory): posterior thalamoperforators (P1 & tip of basilar) Lateral (motor–sensory): thalamogeniculate (P2) Posterior (visual): posterior choroidal |
| Internal capsule | Anterior limb: medial striates (ACA) & lateral striates (MCA) Genu: ICA branches & lateral striates (MCA) Posterior limb: anterior choroidal & lateral striates (MCA) |
| Caudate | Medial portion: anterior choroidal · Lateral portion: recurrent artery of Heubner |
| Putamen | Lateral striates (MCA) |
| Globus pallidus | Medial: anterior choroidal (ICA) · Lateral: lateral striates (MCA) |
Major blood vessels of the brain
| Branch | Supplies |
|---|---|
| Internal carotid artery — 4 segments: cervical, intrapetrosal, intracavernous, supraclinoid | |
| Ophthalmic (first branch) | Retina |
| Anterior choroidal | Optic tract, internal capsule (posterior limb), cerebral peduncle, globus pallidus, LGB, hippocampus & amygdala |
| Posterior communicating | Thalamic perforators to anterior thalamus |
| Anterior cerebral artery (ACA) | |
| Cortical | Medial and parasagittal aspect of the hemispheres |
| Medial lenticulostriate | Basal ganglia, corpus callosum, and part of the fornix |
| Recurrent artery of Heubner | Head of the caudate |
| Middle cerebral artery (MCA) | |
| Cortical | Lateral aspect of the cerebral hemisphere and anterior temporal lobe |
| Lateral lenticulostriate | Basal ganglia and internal capsule |
| Vertebral artery | |
| Anterior spinal | Midline medulla and anterior spinal cord |
| Posterior spinal | Lateral medulla and posterolateral spinal cord |
| Paramedian perforators | Paramedian part of medulla |
| PICA | Lateral medulla and inferior part of cerebellum |
| Basilar artery | |
| Median / paramedian perforators | Medial pons |
| Circumferential | Lateral pons |
| AICA | Inferior part of lateral pons |
| SCA | Superior part of lateral pons |
| Posterior cerebral artery (PCA) | |
| Cortical | Occipital and inferior temporal lobes (except uncus, by MCA), splenium, and inferior parietal lobule |
| Perforating | Midbrain and thalamus |
| Other | |
| Internal auditory | Branch from AICA; lesion causes vertigo and deafness |
LIGHTS on RITE by Ahmed Koriesh