Anterior communicating artery

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Artery: Anterior communicating artery
The cerebral arterial circle and arteries of the brain. The anterior communicating arteries (top of figure) connect the left and right anterior cerebral arteries.
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Latin	arteria communicans anterior
Gray's	subject #146 572
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MeSH	[1]
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In human anatomy, the anterior communicating artery is a blood vessel of the brain that connects the left and right anterior cerebral arteries.

The anterior communicating artery connects the two anterior cerebral arteries across the commencement of the longitudinal fissure. Sometimes this vessel is wanting, the two arteries joining together to form a single trunk, which afterward divides; or it may be wholly, or partially, divided into two. Its length averages about 4 mm, but varies greatly. It gives off some of the anteromedial ganglionic vessels, but these are principally derived from the anterior cerebral artery.

It is part of the cerebral arterial circle, also known as the circle of Willis.

Pathology

Aneurysms of the anterior communicating artery are the most common circle of Willis aneurysm and can cause visual field defects such as bitemporal hemianopsia, psychopathology and frontal lobe pathology.

See also

• Cerebral arteriosclerosis
• Cerebral blood flow
• Cerebral hemorrhage
• Cerebrovascular accident
• Cerbrovascular disorders

External links

• MedEd at Loyola Neuro/neurovasc/navigation/aca.htm
• SUNY Labs 28:09-0221

This article was originally based on an entry from a public domain edition of Gray's Anatomy. As such, some of the information contained herein may be outdated. Please edit the article if this is the case, and feel free to remove this notice when it is no longer relevant.