Anterior Cerebral Artery (ACA)

VESSEL PATHWAY

The anterior cerebral artery is a branch off of the internal carotid artery.

Aorta → Brachiocephalic  (only on right) → Common Carotid → Internal Carotid → Anterior Cerebral Artery

Anatomical location of the external carotid artery (source)
Anatomical location of the ACA (source)
FUNCTION

The ACA will perfuse the brain territories outlined below. 

General regions supplied by ACA

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Source

Coronal section of regions supplied by ACA

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Axial section of regions supplied by ACA

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CAUSES OF INJURY

Stroke: occlusion of this vessel can lead to infarction of its perfused territories.

CLINICAL PRESENTATION OF INJURY

Contralateral somatosensory/motor deficits (predominantly of the lower extremity): given the perfusion territory of the ACA, both the motor and sensory cortex can be involved (and generally patients who have an issue with this vessel will present with symptoms more pronounced in the lower extremities).

 

Page updated: 08.08.2016