Middle cerebral artery

The Internal carotid artery divides into middle cerebral artery and anterior cerebral artery. The middle cerebral artery travels to the lateral fissure.

The middle cerebral artery is divided into 4 parts:
M1 segment, horizontal, from the internal carotid artery to the lateral fissure
M2 segment, insular, designates the branches located inside the Sylvian fissure (to the top of the Sylvian fissure)
M3 segment, opercular, denominates the branches located between the top of the Sylvian fissure and the cerebral cortex
M4 segment, cortical, refers to arterial branches on the surface of the cerebral cortex.

The anterior cerebral arteries irrigate:
• a large part of the surface of the cerebral hemisphere, except the convexity and the inferior temporal gyrus
• anterior pole of temporal lobe
• nucleus caudatus
• internal capsule
• putamen, globus pallidus
• external capsule.

• |<
• <
• ⇒
• >
• >|
• •

MRI of the brain, Time-of-Flight, axial MIP, circle of Willis (magnification). Image 1.    1, Bifurcation. 2, Middle cerebral artery (M1). 3, Internal carotid artery (right side). 4, Anterior cerebral artery (A1). 5, Internal carotid artery (left side). 6, Middle cerebral artery (left side).

<

>

<

>

• MRI of the brain, Time-of-Flight, axial MIP, circle of Willis (magnification). Image 1.    1, MCA Bifurcation (genu). 2, Middle cerebral artery (M1). 3, Internal carotid artery (right side). 4, Anterior cerebral artery (A1). 5, Internal carotid artery (left side). 6, Middle cerebral artery (left side).
• MRI of the brain, Time-of-Flight, axial MIP, circle of Willis (magnification). Image 2.    1, Middle cerebral artery (M4). 2, Middle cerebral artery (M3). 3, Middle cerebral artery (M2). 4, Middle cerebral artery (M1). 5, Internal carotid artery (left side). 6, Middle cerebral artery (left side).
• MRI of the brain, Time-of-Flight, axial MIP, circle of Willis (magnification). Image 3.    1, Middle cerebral artery (M4). 2, Middle cerebral artery (M3). 3, Middle cerebral artery (M2). 4, Middle cerebral artery (M1). 5, Internal carotid artery (left side). 6, Middle cerebral artery (left side). 7, Basilar artery. 8, Posterior cerebral artery.

Reference

• Harnsberger HR, Osborn AG, Ross JS, Moore KR, Salzman KL, Carrasco CR, Halmiton BE, Davidson HC, Wiggins RH. Diagnostic and Surgical Imaging Anatomy: Brain, Head and Neck, Spine. 3rd ed. Salt Lake City, Utah. Amirsys. 2007.
• Bourjat P, Veillon F. Imagerie radiologique tête et cou. Paris, Vigot. 1995.
• Gouazé A, Baumann JA, Dhem A. Sobota. Atlas d'Anatomie humaine. Tome 3. Système nerveux central, système nerveux autonome, organe des sens et peau, vaisseaux et nerfs périphériques. 1er éd. Paris, Maloine. 1977.
• Kahle W, Cabrol C. Anatomie. Tome 3: Système nerveux et organe des sens. 1er éd. Paris, Flammarion. 1979.