posterior cerebral artery

Middle

cerebral artery (MCA) infarct • Vascular territories of the lateral cerebral cortex (illustration) - Ganzer Fall bei Radiopaedia

Gaillard, F. Vascular territories of the lateral cerebral cortex (illustration). Case study, Radiopaedia.org. (accessed on 21 Oct 2022) https://doi.org/10.53347/rID-36099 • CC by-nc-sa 3.0 (modified)

The brain and

arteries at base of the brain. Circle of Willis is formed near center. The temporal pole of the cerebrum and a portion of the cerebellar hemisphere have been removed on the right side. Inferior aspect (viewed from below).

Wikipedia • Public domain

Posterior

cerebral artery • Accessory PCA arising from the terminal ICA - Ganzer Fall bei Radiopaedia

Hacking, C. Accessory PCA arising from the terminal ICA. Case study, Radiopaedia.org. (accessed on 01 Nov 2022) https://doi.org/10.53347/rID-94319 • CC by-nc-sa 3.0 (modified)

Middle

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

Gaillard, F. Cerebral vascular territories in the midline (illustration). Case study, Radiopaedia.org. (accessed on 21 Oct 2022) https://doi.org/10.53347/rID-36100 • CC by-nc-sa 3.0 (modified)

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)

Hapugoda, S. Common variants of the circle of Willis (illustrations). Case study, Radiopaedia.org. (accessed on 21 Oct 2022) https://doi.org/10.53347/rID-51777 • CC by-nc-sa 3.0 (modified)

Hacking, C. Brainstem arterial territories (diagrams). Case study, Radiopaedia.org. (accessed on 27 Oct 2022) https://doi.org/10.53347/rID-81960 • CC by-nc-sa 3.0 (modified)

Posterior

cerebral artery • Posterior cerebral artery segments - Ganzer Fall bei Radiopaedia

Lokhandwala D, Posterior cerebral artery segments. Case study, Radiopaedia.org (Accessed on 07 Nov 2023) https://doi.org/10.53347/rID-161990 • CC by-nc-sa 3.0 (modified)

Posterior

cerebral artery • PCA infarction - Ganzer Fall bei Radiopaedia

Hacking C, PCA infarction. Case study, Radiopaedia.org (Accessed on 07 Nov 2023) https://doi.org/10.53347/rID-165500 • CC by-nc-sa 3.0 (modified)

Radiopaedia • CC-by-nc-sa 3.0 • de

The posterior cerebral arteries (PCA) are the terminal branches of the basilar artery and supply the occipital lobes and posteromedial temporal lobes.

Summary

origin: terminal branches of the basilar artery
course: from basilar towards occiput
main branches
supply: occipital lobes and posteromedial temporal lobes

Gross anatomy

The PCA is divided into four segments:

P1: pre-communicating segment
- originates at the termination of the basilar artery
- terminates to the posterior communicating artery (PCOM), within the interpeduncular cistern
P2: post-communicating segment
- from the PCOM around the midbrain
  - P2A (anterior): sub-segment courses through the crural cistern
  - P2P (posterior or ambient): sub-segment courses through the ambient cistern
- terminates as it enters the quadrigeminal cistern
P3: quadrigeminal segment
- courses posteromedially through the quadrigeminal cistern
- terminates as it enters sulci of the occipital lobe
P4: cortical segment
- within the sulci of the occipital lobe
- e.g. calcarine artery, within the calcarine fissure

Branches

posterior communicating artery
collicular (quadrigeminal) artery
choroidal branches (from P2)
- medial posterior choroidal arteries
- lateral posterior choroidal arteries
perforators
- anterior thalamoperforator (from PCOM)
- posterior thalamoperforator (from P1)
- thalamogeniculate perforator (from P2)
- peduncular perforator (from P2)
- circumflex (long and short)
cortical branches
- temporal branches
  - anterior temporal artery
  - posterior temporal artery
- lateral occipital artery
  - anterior inferior temporal artery
  - middle inferior temporal artery
  - posterior inferior temporal artery
- medial occipital artery
  - calcarine artery
  - parieto-occipital artery
- splenial artery

Supply

The posterior cerebral artery curls around the cerebral peduncle and passes above the tentorium to supply the posteromedial surface of the temporal lobe and the occipital lobe. The visual cortex responsible for the contralateral field of vision lies in its territory. The macular part of the visual cortex often receives a dual blood supply from the PCA and the MCA, which explains the "macular sparing" phenomenon in some patients following a PCA infarct.