Posterior cerebral artery
Arteria cerebri posterior
Also known as: PCA
The posterior cerebral artery is a terminal branch of the basilar artery. It curves around the midbrain to supply the occipital lobe, including the visual cortex, and the inferomedial temporal lobe. Through perforating branches it also supplies the thalamus and midbrain.
Overview
The P1 segment runs from the tip of the basilar artery to the posterior communicating artery. It gives thalamoperforating branches, which sometimes arise from a single common trunk called the artery of Percheron. The P2 segment winds around the cerebral peduncle and gives temporal (hippocampal) branches and the posterior choroidal arteries. Its terminal branches are the calcarine artery, which supplies the primary visual cortex, and the parieto-occipital artery.
At the occipital pole, the area that represents central (macular) vision, MCA branches often anastomose with PCA branches.
Function
- Supplies the occipital lobe (visual cortex) and the inferomedial temporal lobe (including the hippocampus).
- Supplies the thalamus, midbrain and splenium of the corpus callosum through perforating branches.
Clinical significance
PCA territory stroke
A PCA stroke causes a homonymous hemianopia on the opposite side, often with macular sparing because the MCA also supplies the occipital pole. Other features may include visual agnosia, memory loss from hippocampal involvement, and, in dominant-hemisphere strokes involving the splenium, alexia without agraphia. Thalamic infarction can cause a central pain syndrome (Dejerine–Roussy). Bilateral occipital infarction causes cortical blindness, sometimes with denial of the blindness (Anton syndrome).
Compiled from standard anatomy and physiology references — see the Cardiovascular System sources. For education only; not medical advice.