medial lenticulostriate arteries

Middle

cerebral artery (MCA) infarct • Cerebral vascular territories (illustration) - Ganzer Fall bei Radiopaedia

Gaillard, F. Cerebral vascular territories (illustration). Case study, Radiopaedia.org. (accessed on 21 Oct 2022) https://doi.org/10.53347/rID-10814 • CC by-nc-sa 3.0 (modified)

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The medial lenticulostriate arteries are generally considered to arise from the A1 segment of anterior cerebral artery (ACA), and supply the globus pallidus and medial portion of the putamen .

They are shorter, thinner and fewer in number than the lateral lenticulostriate arteries, which arise more distally along the M1 segment.

Some controversy persists on their origin: most describe them as arising from the A1 segment of the ACA . However, some, including Osborne , divide the perforating arteries that arise from the middle cerebral artery (MCA) M1 segment into medial (those arising proximally) and lateral (those arising more distally) groups. Furthermore, these perforating arteries can arise from other proximal branches (e.g. the fronto-orbital artery) . It is therefore easier to consider these arteries from the point of view of the tissue they supply, rather than what artery they arise from.

The medial lenticulostriate arteries should not be confused with the perforating branches from the A1/A2 segments of the ACA, the largest branch being the recurrent artery of Heubner. However, in 26% of cases, the medial lenticulostriate arteries can be replaced by the recurrent artery of Heubner .