Anterior cerebral artery: anatomy, location and function

What it is

The anterior cerebral artery is one of the two terminal branches of the internal carotid artery and supplies the medial surface of the cerebral hemisphere.

Location

It arises from the internal carotid artery, passes forward and medially above the optic nerve, then runs in the longitudinal fissure and curves around the genu of the corpus callosum. The two anterior cerebral arteries are joined by the anterior communicating artery, and it gives off the callosomarginal and pericallosal arteries.

Function

It supplies the medial frontal and parietal lobes, the upper margin of the lateral surface, and part of the corpus callosum.

Body system

Cardiovascular · paired (left and right)

FMA ID

FMA50029 (Foundational Model of Anatomy)

Key facts

• It is part of the circle of Willis.
• Its territory includes the leg area of the motor and sensory cortex.
• Near the anterior communicating artery it gives the recurrent artery of Heubner to the head of the caudate and anterior limb of the internal capsule.

Clinical relevance

Occlusion causes weakness and sensory loss chiefly in the opposite leg.

The nearest named structures in the 3D model, measured from the centre of each part:

• Anterior communicating artery · cardiovascular
• Lamina terminalis · nervous
• Optic chiasm · nervous
• Posterior communicating artery · cardiovascular
• Hypothalamus · nervous
• Trochlear nerve · nervous
• Pituitary gland · endocrine
• Anterior commissure · nervous
• Optic nerve · nervous
• Ophthalmic nerve · nervous