Middle cerebral artery
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2008-04-28T18:04:22Z
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robot Adding: [[nds:Arteria cerebri media]]
{{Infobox Artery
| Name = Middle cerebral artery
| Latin = arteria cerebri media
| GraySubject = 146
| GrayPage = 572
| Width = 335
| Image = Gray517.png
| Caption = Outer surface of cerebral hemisphere, showing areas supplied by cerebral arteries. (Pink is region supplied by middle cerebral artery.)
| Image2 = Circle of Willis en.svg
| Caption2= The [[circle of Willis|arterial circle]] and arteries of the brain. The '''middle cerebral arteries''' (top of figure) arise from the [[internal carotid arteries]].
| BranchFrom = [[internal carotid arteries]]
| BranchTo = [[anterolateral central arteries]]
| Vein = [[middle cerebral vein]]
| Supplies = [[cerebrum]]
| MeshName =
| MeshNumber =
| DorlandsPre = a_61
| DorlandsSuf = 12153812
}}
The '''middle cerebral artery''' (MCA) is one of the three major paired [[artery|arteries]] that supplies [[blood]] to the [[brain]].
==Path==
The MCA arises from the [[internal carotid]] and continues into the [[lateral sulcus]] where it then branches and projects to many parts of the lateral cerebral cortex. It also supplies blood to the anterior [[temporal lobe]]s and the [[insular cortex|insular cortices]].
The left and right MCAs rise from trifurcations of the [[internal carotid artery|internal carotid arteries]] and thus are connected to the [[anterior cerebral artery|anterior cerebral arteries]] and the [[posterior communicating artery|posterior communicating arteries]], which connect to the [[posterior cerebral artery|posterior cerebral arteries]]. The MCAs are not considered a part of the [[Circle of Willis]].<ref>Moore KL, Dalley AR. ''Clinically Oriented Anatomy'', 4th Ed., Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, Toronto. Copyright 1999. ISBN 0-683-06141-0.</ref>
==Terminal branches==
The MCAs divide into 2 terminal branches (trunks): a superior terminal branch and an inferior terminal branch
===Superior terminal branch===
From the Superior terminal branch comes:
* The lateral frontobasal (orbitio-frontal) artery
* The [[Prefrontal]] sulcal artery
* pre-Rolandic (precentral) and Rolandic (central) sulcal arteries
===Inferior terminal branch===
From the Inferior terminal branch comes:
* Three temporal branches (anterior, middle, posterior)
* A branch to the [[angular gyrus]]
* Two parietal branches (anterior & posterior)
==Areas supplied==
Areas supplied by the middle cerebral artery include:
* The bulk of the lateral surface of the hemisphere. are the superior inch of the [[frontal lobe]] and [[parietal lobe]] and the inferior part of the [[temporal lobe]] and the [[occipital pole]], which are supplied by the [[posterior cerebral artery]].
* Part of the [[internal capsule]] and [[basal ganglia]].
==Occlusion==
Occlusion of the middle cerebral artery may result in the following defects:
# [[Paralysis]] of the contralateral face and arm.
# Sensory loss in the contralateral face and arm.
# [[Aphasia]] (e.g. [[Broca's]], [[Wernicke's]], conduction, and [[anomic]] types) when the dominant hemisphere (usually the left hemisphere for [[right handed]] individuals) is affected
# Contralateral [[neglect syndrome]] with damage to the right hemisphere
# [[Homonymous hemianopsia|Homonymous]] [[hemianopia]] or [[quadrantanopia]].
==Additional images==
[[Image:Arteries beneath brain_Gray closer.jpg|thumb|right|335px|Arteries at base of brain: '''middle cerebral artery''' at upper left. The [[temporal lobe|temporal]] pole of the [[cerebrum]] and a portion of the [[cerebellum|cerebellar]] hemisphere have been removed on the right side. Inferior aspect (viewed from below).]]
<gallery>
Image:Gray518.png|Medial surface of cerebral hemisphere, showing areas supplied by cerebral arteries.
</gallery>
<gallery>
Image:Cerebral Cortex location.jpg|Location of cerebral cortex
</gallery>
==References==
{{reflist}}
==External links==
* {{LoyolaMedEd|Neuro/neurovasc/navigation/mca.htm}}
* {{SUNYAnatomyLabs|28|09|02|15}}
* {{RocheLexicon|13048.000-1}}
* [http://www.neuropat.dote.hu/table/erell.htm Blood supply at neuropat.dote.hu]
{{Arteries of head and neck}}
[[Category:Arteries]]
[[Category:Head and neck]]
{{circulatory-stub}}
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