Anterior cerebral artery
Arteria cerebri anterior
Also known as: ACA
The anterior cerebral artery is a terminal branch of the internal carotid. It runs forward and then back along the medial surface of the hemisphere above the corpus callosum, supplying the medial frontal and parietal lobes, including the leg and foot areas of the motor and sensory cortex.
Overview
The A1 (precommunicating) segment runs medially above the optic nerve to the anterior communicating artery. Along the way it gives medial lenticulostriate branches. The A2 segment runs up in the longitudinal fissure. It gives off the recurrent artery of Heubner, which supplies the head of the caudate and the front of the internal capsule, and the orbitofrontal and frontopolar branches. It then continues as the pericallosal and callosomarginal arteries, which follow the corpus callosum backward to the parieto-occipital sulcus.
Function
- Supplies the medial surface of the frontal and parietal lobes, including the paracentral lobule (leg and foot areas, and the cortical control of micturition).
- Supplies the anterior four-fifths of the corpus callosum and part of the caudate nucleus and internal capsule.
Clinical significance
ACA territory stroke
An ACA stroke causes weakness and sensory loss in the opposite leg and foot, much more than in the arm, with the face spared. It may also cause urinary incontinence, apathy (abulia), personality change and primitive reflexes such as the grasp reflex.
Compiled from standard anatomy and physiology references — see the Cardiovascular System sources. For education only; not medical advice.