Posterior cerebral artery

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Posterior cerebral artery
Gray's Anatomy plate 517 brain.png
The outer surface of the human brain, with the area supplied by the posterior cerebral artery shown in yellow.
Circle of Willis en.svg
The arterial circle and arteries of the brain (inferior view). The posterior cerebral arteries (bottom forks) arise from the basilar artery (center).
Details
Source Basilar artery (most common in adults)
Vein Cerebral veins
Supplies Occipital lobe of cerebrum
Identifiers
Latin arteria cerebri posterior
Acronym(s)PCA
MeSH D020769
TA98 A12.2.07.082
TA2 4565
FMA 50583
Anatomical terminology

The posterior cerebral artery (PCA) is one of a pair of cerebral arteries that supply oxygenated blood to the occipital lobe, part of the back of the human brain. The two arteries originate from the distal end of the basilar artery, where it bifurcates into the left and right posterior cerebral arteries. These anastomose with the middle cerebral arteries and internal carotid arteries via the posterior communicating arteries.

Contents

Structure

The posterior cerebral artery is subdivided into 4 segments:

P1: pre-communicating segment

P2: post-communicating segment

P3: quadrigeminal segment

P4: cortical segment

The branches of the posterior cerebral artery are divided into two sets, ganglionic and cortical.

Central branches

The following are central branches of the PCA, also known as perforating branches:

Posterior cerebral artery Circle of Willis 4.jpg
Posterior cerebral artery

Posterior (choroidal) branches

The posterior choroidal branches of the posterior cerebral artery are sometimes referred to as a single posterior choroidal artery.

Cortical branches

The cortical branches are:

Development

The prenatal development of the posterior cerebral arteries in the fetus comes relatively late and arises from the fusion of several embryonic vessels near the caudal ends of the posterior communicating arteries supplying the mesencephalon and diencephalon. [2] The PCA begins as such, as a continuation of the PCommA in the fetus with only 10–30% of fetuses having a prominent basilar origin. [3]

The fetal carotid origin of the PCA usually regresses as the vertebral and basilar arteries develop with the PCommA reducing is size. In most adults, the PCA sources from the anterior portion of the basilar artery. Only about 19% of adults retain PCommA dominance of the PCA with 72% having dominant basilar origin, and the rest having either equal prominence between PCommA and basilar artery, or a single exclusive source. [3]

Clinical significance

Stroke

Signs and symptoms: Structures involved

Peripheral territory (cortical branches)

Central territory (ganglionic branches)

Additional images

See also

Related Research Articles

Articles related to anatomy include:

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Internal carotid artery</span> Artery of the human brain

The internal carotid artery is an artery in the neck which supplies the anterior circulation of the brain.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Internal capsule</span> White matter structure situated in the inferomedial part of each cerebral hemisphere of the brain

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Medial medullary syndrome</span> Medical condition

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Anterior cerebral artery</span> Artery supplying the brain

The anterior cerebral artery (ACA) is one of a pair of cerebral arteries that supplies oxygenated blood to most midline portions of the frontal lobes and superior medial parietal lobes of the brain. The two anterior cerebral arteries arise from the internal carotid artery and are part of the circle of Willis. The left and right anterior cerebral arteries are connected by the anterior communicating artery.

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Middle cerebral artery</span> Paired artery that supplies blood to the cerebrum

The middle cerebral artery (MCA) is one of the three major paired cerebral arteries that supply blood to the cerebrum. The MCA arises from the internal carotid artery and continues into the lateral sulcus where it then branches and projects to many parts of the lateral cerebral cortex. It also supplies blood to the anterior temporal lobes and the insular cortices.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Anterior choroidal artery</span>

The anterior choroidal artery is a bilaterally paired artery of the brain. It is typically a branch of the internal carotid artery which supplies the choroid plexus of lateral ventricle and third ventricle as well as numerous structures of the brain.

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Posterior cerebral artery syndrome</span> Medical condition

Posterior cerebral artery syndrome is a condition whereby the blood supply from the posterior cerebral artery (PCA) is restricted, leading to a reduction of the function of the portions of the brain supplied by that vessel: the occipital lobe, the inferomedial temporal lobe, a large portion of the thalamus, and the upper brainstem and midbrain.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Middle cerebral artery syndrome</span> Medical condition

Middle cerebral artery syndrome is a condition whereby the blood supply from the middle cerebral artery (MCA) is restricted, leading to a reduction of the function of the portions of the brain supplied by that vessel: the lateral aspects of frontal, temporal and parietal lobes, the corona radiata, globus pallidus, caudate and putamen. The MCA is the most common site for the occurrence of ischemic stroke.

Benedikt syndrome, also called Benedikt's syndrome or paramedian midbrain syndrome, is a rare type of posterior circulation stroke of the brain, with a range of neurological symptoms affecting the midbrain, cerebellum and other related structures.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Collicular artery</span> Small artery that supplies portions of the midbrain

The collicular artery or quadrigeminal artery arises from the posterior cerebral artery. This small artery supplies portions of the midbrain, especially the superior colliculus, inferior colliculus, and tectum.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Visual pathway lesions</span> Overview about the lesions of visual pathways

The visual pathway consists of structures that carry visual information from the retina to the brain. Lesions in that pathway cause a variety of visual field defects. In the visual system of human eye, the visual information processed by retinal photoreceptor cells travel in the following way:
Retina→Optic nerve→Optic chiasma →Optic tract→Lateral geniculate body→Optic radiation→Primary visual cortex

References

  1. Atlas of Human Anatomy, Frank Netter
  2. Osborn, Anne G.; Jacobs, John M. (1999), Diagnostic Cerebral Angiography, Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, p. 153, ISBN   978-0-397-58404-8
  3. 1 2 Krayenbühl, Hugo; Yaşargil, Mahmut Gazi; Huber, Peter; Bosse, George (1982), Cerebral Angiography, Thieme, pp. 163–165, ISBN   978-0-86577-067-6
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Kuybu, Okkes; Tadi, Prasanna; Dossani, Rimal H. (2023), "Posterior Cerebral Artery Stroke", StatPearls, Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing, PMID   30335329 , retrieved 2023-10-30
  5. 1 2 Munakomi, Sunil; M Das, Joe (2023), "Weber Syndrome", StatPearls, Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing, PMID   32644584 , retrieved 2023-10-30
  6. Bassetti, Claudio; Staikov, Ivan N. (1995). "Hemiplegia Vegetativa Alterna (Ipsilateral Horner's Syndrome and Contralateral Hemihyperhidrosis) Following Proximal Posterior Cerebral Artery Occlusion". Stroke. 26 (4): 702–704. doi:10.1161/01.STR.26.4.702. ISSN   0039-2499.
  7. Park, Sukh Que; Bae, Hack Gun; Yoon, Seok Mann; Shim, Jai Joon; Yun, Il Gyu; Choi, Soon Kwan. "Morphological Characteristics of the Thalamoperforating Arteries". Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society. 47 (1): 36–41. doi:10.3340/jkns.2010.47.1.36. ISSN   2005-3711. PMC   2817513 . PMID   20157376.