II. Anatomy: Anterior Circulation

  1. Anterior Cerebral Circulation arises from the bilateral carotid arteries
    1. Right side
      1. Aortic root gives rise to the brachiocephalic artery
      2. Brachiocephalic artery branches into the right Carotid Artery and the subclavian artery
    2. Left side
      1. Aortic root directly gives rise to the left Carotid Artery
  2. Bilateral carotid arteries branch into the bilateral internal carotid arteries
    1. Carotid arteries branch into the Anterior Cerebral Artery and Middle Cerebral Artery
  3. Anterior Cerebral Artery
    1. Perfuses the entire midline of the Cerebral Hemisphere
    2. Correlates with lower extremity motor and sensory innervation
    3. Occlusion of the Anterior Cerebral Artery (e.g. Anterior Cerebral Artery CVA)
      1. Results in contralateral leg weakness or paralysis (Hemiparesis) and numbness
  4. Middle Cerebral Artery
    1. Perfuses the lateral Cerebral Hemispheres
    2. Correlates with upper extremity and facial motor and sensory innervation
    3. Occlusion of the Middle Cerebral Artery (Middle Cerebral Artery CVA)
      1. Results in contralateral arm and facial Hemiparesis and numbness
      2. Speech and language are also affected (Aphasia) by MCA Occlusion in dominant hemisphere (typically left)
  5. Circle of Willis
    1. Allows the Anterior Circulation of one hemisphere to communicate with the contralateral hemisphere circulation
    2. Also allows for communication with the Posterior Circulation for redundant perfusion

III. Anatomy: Images

  1. entNeckArteryCarotidExternalGrayBB511.gif Lewis (1918) Gray's Anatomy 20th ed (in public domain at Yahoo or BartleBy)
  2. entCarotidArteryGrayBB513.gif Lewis (1918) Gray's Anatomy 20th ed (in public domain at Yahoo or BartleBy)

IV. References

  1. Gilman (1989) Manter and Gatz Essentials of Neuroanatomy and Neurophysiology, Davis, p. 216-21
  2. Goldberg (2014) Clinical Neuroanatomy, Medmaster, p. 6-15
  3. Netter (1997) Atlas Human Anatomy, ICON Learning, p. 130-9

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Ontology: Carotid Arteries (C0007272)

Definition (SCTSPA) Una de las arterias carótidas primitivas, internas o externas
Definition (SNOMEDCT_US) One of the common carotid, internal carotid, or external carotid arteries
Definition (NCI_CDISC) One of two arteries that supply oxygenated blood to the head and neck; the left common carotid branches from the aorta and the right common carotid from the innominate (brachiocephalic artery). (NCI)
Definition (NCI) One of two arteries that supply oxygenated blood to the head and neck; the left common carotid branches from the aorta and the right common carotid from the innominate (brachiocephalic artery).
Definition (NCI_NCI-GLOSS) A major artery that carries blood from the heart to the head. There is a carotid artery on each side of the neck, and each one splits into two branches. The interior branch carries blood to the brain and eyes, and the exterior branch carries blood to the face, tongue, and outside parts of the head.
Definition (MSH) Either of the two principal arteries on both sides of the neck that supply blood to the head and neck; each divides into two branches, the internal carotid artery and the external carotid artery.
Definition (CSP) key artery located in the front of the neck that carries blood from the heart to the brain; cholesterol plaques on the inner wall of the carotid artery can lead to stroke.
Concepts Body Part, Organ, or Organ Component (T023)
MSH D002339
SnomedCT 69105007
LNC LP29872-6, MTHU011911
English Arteries, Carotid, Artery, Carotid, Carotid Arteries, carotid arteries, carotid artery, ARTERY, CAROTID, CAROTID ARTERY, Carotid artery, Carotid artery structure (body structure), Carotid artery structure, Carotid artery, NOS, Carotid Artery
Swedish Halsartärer
Czech arteriae carotides
Finnish Kaulavaltimot
Russian KAROTIDNYE ARTERII, SONNYE ARTERII, КАРОТИДНЫЕ АРТЕРИИ, СОННЫЕ АРТЕРИИ
Croatian KAROTIDNE ARTERIJE
Latvian Miega artērijas
Polish Tętnice szyjne
Spanish estructura de arteria carótida, estructura de la arteria carótida (estructura corporal), estructura de la arteria carótida, estructura de arteria carótida (estructura corporal), arteria carótida, Arterias Carótidas
Norwegian Arteriae carotides, Carotisarterier, Carotider, Karotisarterier, Halsarterier, Halspulsårer, Karotider
French Artères carotides
German Arteriae carotides, Karotisarterien
Italian Arterie carotidee
Dutch Arteria carotis, Arteriae carotides, Carotiden, Halsslagaders
Portuguese Artérias Carótidas