Middle cerebral artery 2503748 208801064 2008-04-28T18:04:22Z Thijs!bot 1392310 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}} [[de:Arteria cerebri media]] [[la:Arteria cerebri media]] [[ja:中大脳動脈]] [[no:Arteria cerebri media]] [[nds:Arteria cerebri media]]