Posterior cerebral artery
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{{Infobox Artery
| Name = {{PAGENAME}}
| Latin = arteria cerebri posterior
| GraySubject = 148
| GrayPage = 580
| Width = 335
| Image = Gray517.png
| Caption = Outer surface of cerebral hemisphere, showing areas supplied by cerebral arteries. (Yellow is region supplied by posterior cerebral artery.)
| Image2 = Circle of Willis en.svg
| Caption2= The [[circle of Willis|arterial circle]] and arteries of the brain. The '''posterior cerebral arteries''' (''bottom forks'') arise from the [[basilar artery]] (''center'').
| BranchFrom = [[basilar artery]]
| BranchTo =
| Vein = [[cerebral veins]]
| Supplies = [[occipital lobe]] of [[cerebrum]]
| MeshName = Posterior+Cerebral+Artery
| MeshNumber = A07.231.114.228.700
| DorlandsPre = a_61
| DorlandsSuf = 12153821
}}
In [[human anatomy]], the '''posterior cerebral artery''' is the [[blood vessel]] that supplies oxygenated [[blood]] to the posterior aspect of the brain ([[occipital lobe]]). It arises from the [[basilar artery]] and connects with the ipsilateral [[middle cerebral artery]] and [[internal carotid artery]] via the [[posterior communicating artery]].
==Branches==
The branches of the posterior cerebral artery are divided into two sets, ganglionic and cortical:
===Ganglionic branches===
* The ''postero-medial ganglionic branches'' are a group of small arteries which arise at the commencement of the posterior cerebral artery: these, with similar branches from the [[posterior communicating]], pierce the posterior perforated substance, and supply the medial surfaces of the [[thalami]] and the walls of the [[third ventricle]].
* The ''posterior choroidal branches'' run forward beneath the [[splenium]] of the [[corpus callosum]], and supply the [[tela chorioidea of the third ventricle]] and the [[choroid plexus]].
* The ''postero-lateral ganglionic branches'' are small arteries which arise from the posterior cerebral artery after it has turned around the [[cerebral peduncle]]; they supply a considerable portion of the thalamus.
===Cortical branches===
The cortical branches are:
* the ''[[anterior temporal]]'', distributed to the [[uncus]] and the anterior part of the [[fusiform gyrus]]
* the ''[[posterior temporal]]'', to the fusiform and the [[inferior temporal]] gyri
* the ''[[calcarine]]'', to the [[cuneus]] and [[gyrus lingualis]] and the back part of the convex surface of the [[occipital lobe]]
* the ''[[parietoöccipital]]'', to the [[cuneus]] and the [[precuneus]]
==Occlusion==
*Contralateral loss of pain and temperature sensations.
*Visual field defects (contralateral hemianopia with macular sparing).
*[[Prosopagnosia]] with bilateral obstruction of the lingual and fusiform gyri.
*Medial Midbrain Syndrome (Weber syndrome)
*Ipsilateral deficits of Cranial Nerves V, VIII, IX, X, & XI
*Horners Syndrome
==See also==
*[[Circle of Willis]]
*[[Anterior cerebral artery]]
==Additional images==
[[Image:Arteries_beneath_brain_Gray_closer.jpg|thumb|right|335px|The arteries of the base of the brain. Posterior cerebral artery labeled near center. 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:Cerebral Cortex location.jpg|Location of cerebral cortex
</gallery>
<gallery>
Image:Gray518.png|Medial surface of cerebral hemisphere, showing areas supplied by cerebral arteries.
</gallery>
==External links==
* {{eMedicine|neuro|322}} - Posterior Cerebral Artery Stroke
* {{UMichAtlas|n3a8p1}}
* {{SUNYAnatomyLabs|28|09|02|06}}
* {{RocheLexicon|13048.000-1}}
* [http://www.strokecenter.org/education/ais_vessels/ais049c.html Overview] at strokecenter.org
* [http://www.upstate.edu/neurosurgery/resources/med_students/angio/ Angiography] at [[State University of New York Upstate Medical University]]
* [http://www.psyweb.com/Brain/pca.jsp Diagram] at psyweb.com
* [http://www.neuropat.dote.hu/table/erell.htm Blood supply] at neuropat.dote.hu
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{{Arteries of head and neck}}
[[Category:Arteries]]
[[Category:Head and neck]]
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