Neurological System ( Anatomy )
Five Major Division of the Brain
• Divisions are based on developmental origins
• They do not sub-serve discrete functions
Brainstem
( Medulla )
Motor and Sensory cortexes areas
Blood Supply to the Lobes
Circle of Willis
• Location : Bottom of the brain
• Made up of ACA, MCA & PCA
• Purpose :
Allows for proper blood flow from the arteries to both the front and back
hemispheres of the brain. The arteries that stem off from the circle of Willis
supply much of the blood to the brain.
Serves as a sort of safety mechanism when it comes to blood flow.
If a blockage or narrowing slows or prevents the blood flow in a
connected artery, the change in pressure can cause blood to flow
forward or backward in the circle of Willis to compensate.
This mechanism could also help blood flow from one side of the brain
to the other in a situation in which the arteries on one side have
reduced blood flow.
In an emergency, such as a stroke, this may reduce the damage or
aftereffects of the event.
It consists of :
left and right internal carotid arteries
left and right anterior cerebral
arteries
left and right posterior cerebral
arteries
left and right posterior
communicating arteries
basilar artery
anterior communicating artery
Areas supply by ACA, MCA & PCA
Arteries Areas supply If blockage occur,
Anterior Cerebral Medial and superior parts of • Cerebral dementia
Artery (ACA)
frontal lobes (Responsible for • Speech difficulties
higher-level cognition, including • Apraxia (=Loss of ability
judgment and reasoning as well to perform certain actions
as the voluntary mvm especially that a person should be
legs) physically able to do and
Anterior parietal lobe has the desire to do) of
gait
• Opposite leg weakness
• Influence the arm mvm
Arteries Areas supply If blockage occur,
Middle Cerebral Artery Lateral side of frontal lobe • Often obstructed / blocked
(MCA) Lateral side of temporal lobe during stroke d/t its large
Largest among Lateral side of parietal lobe areas of supply
three of the arteries If MCA Stroke
( These 3 lobes control the involving Broca’s /
sensory functions of face, throat, Wernicke’s area,
arms, and hands ) speech will be greatly
affected and lead to
aphasia.
• If branches to the
precentral gyrus are
affected Loss of motor
innervation for head, UE
or trunk in the opposite
side of the body
• If branches to the
postcentral gyrus are
affected Loss of
sensation from head, UE
& trunk
Posterior Cerebral Occipital lobe • Blockage usually results
Artery (PCA) Inferomedial surface of from a blood clot
temporal lobe • Vision loss
Midbrain • Dizziness
Thalamus • Memory loss
• Language dysfunction
Blood Supply
Brain Area Blood Supply
Thalamus • 4 branches of PCA :
1. Polar artery ( Post
Communicating Artery )
2. Paramedian Thalamic-
subthalamic Artery
3. Posterior Choroidal Artery
4. Thalamogeniculate / Inferolateral
Artery
Cerebellum
1. Superior Cerebellar Artery
2. Anterior Inferior Cerebellar Artery
3. Posterior Inferior Cerebellar Artery
** First two Branches of Basilar
Artery ; Last one Branches of
Vertebral Artery **
Brain Stem ( TeachMeAnatomy ) Vertebrobasilar system
1. Medulla • Posterior Inferior Cerebellar Artery
(PICA)
• Anterior Inferior Cerebellar Artery
• Posterior Spinal Arteries
• Anterior Spinal Arteries
2. Pons • Pontine Arteries ( = Branches of
Basilar Artery )
• Anterior Inferior Cerebral Arteries
• SCA
3. Midbrain • SCA
• Posterior Choroidal Artery
• PCA and its peduncular branch
• Interpeduncular branches of the
basilar artery
