CNS Blood Supply

anterior cerebral artery (ACA)

supplies medial aspect of frontal and parietal lobes, cingulate cortex, corpus callosum

middle cerebral artery (MCA)

supplies 2/3 of cortex, lateral frontal and parietal lobe, insular cortex, medial and lateral temporal lobes, subcortical deep structures (basal ganglia, internal capsule, limbic structures)

anterior choroidal artery

supplies choroid plexus of lateral ventricle, optic tract, deep structures of telencephalon (posterior limb of internal capsule, portions of basal ganglia, portions of thalamus)

circle of willis

provides collateral blood flow between anterior and posterior circulations of brain as well as right and left hemispheres

• ACAs, ACA, PCAs, PCAs

posterior communicating arteries

supplies diencephalon structures (pituitary, infundibulum, hypothalamus, thalamus)

posterior cerebral artery

arises from basilar artery and travels posterior to occiput

PCA superficial branches

supplies medial and inferior occipital lobes, inferior temporal lobes

PCA deep branches

supplies subcortical structures: midbrain, thalamus, subthalamic structures

posterior inferior cerebellar arteries

supplies lateral medulla, inferior cerebellum

anterior spinal artery

supplies medial medulla, anterior 2/3 spinal cord

posterior spinal arteries

supplies dorsal medial medulla, posterior 1/3 of spinal cord

anterior inferior cerebellar arteries

supplies lateral caudal pons, cerebellum

labyrinthine arteries

supplies cochlea and vestibular apparatus

pontine arteries

supplies rostral lateral pons

superior cerebellum arteries

supplies cerebellum and rostral dorsolateral pons