ANATOMY AND PHYSIOLOGY

The supply of freshly oxygenated blood from the heart to the brain is delivered via the
carotid and basilar arteries.
Carotid Arteries
The carotid arteries run up both sides of the neck, and supply oxygen to the "carotid
territory" of the brain. The carotid territory includes the frontal and temporal lobes.
Strokes in the carotid territory, the "front" of the brain, are referred to as anterior
strokes. Anterior strokes produce the most common stroke symptoms. Anterior strokes
can be caused by blood clots or narrowing in the carotid arteries as well as in smaller
arteries within the brain. Speech difficulties, vision problems, tingling, and paralysis
may result from an anterior stroke. Basilar Arteries
The basilar arteries are part of the vertebrobasilar circulation system, located at the base
of the skull. The two vertebral arteries connect to form a single basilar artery that
provides the "vertebrobasilar territory" of the brain with oxygen. This territory includes
the brain stem, cerebellum, and occipital lobes. A stoke in this region of the brain is
referred to as a posterior stroke (meaning the stroke affects the back of the brain).
Posterior strokes cause some of the less common stroke. Strokes in the basilar territory
can sometimes affect both sides of the body. Posterior strokes may also cause
headaches, visual disturbances, speech problems, nausea, difficulty swallowing, and
weakness in the legs or arms.
Circle of Willis
The Circle of Willis (also called Willis' Circle, cerebral arterial circle, arterial Circle of
Willis, and Willis Polygon) is a circle of arteries that supply blood to the brain.
The Circle of Willis comprises the following arteries:
Anterior cerebral artery (left and right)

Anterior communicating artery

Internal carotid artery (left and right)
Posterior cerebral artery (left and right)
Posterior communicating artery (left and right)
The basilar artery and middle cerebral arteries, though they supply the brain, are not
considered part of the circle
1. The anterior cerebral arteries (ACA) are a pair of arteries on the brain that
supply oxygen to most medial portions of frontal lobes and superior medial
parietal lobes. The 2 anterior cerebral arteries arise from the internal carotid
artery and are part of the Circle of Willis.The left and right anterior cerebral
arteries are connected by the anterior communicating artery.
2. The anterior communicating artery is a blood vessel of the brain that connects
the left and right anterior cerebral arteries.
3. The internal carotid arteries are major arteries of the head and neck that supply
blood to the brain.
4. The posterior cerebral artery (PCA) is one of a pair of blood vessels that
supplies oxygenated blood to the posterior aspect of the brain (occipital lobe) in
human anatomy.
5. The posterior communicating artery is one of a pair of right-sided and leftsided blood vessels in the circle of Willis