J Korean Neurosurg Soc.  1981 Mar;10(1):17-26.

Microsurgical Anatomy of the Proximal Anterior Cerebral Artery and Anterior Communicating Artery

• Lee KC
• Rhee YK

Abstract

The author present this study of microsurgical anatomy of proximal anterior cerebral arteries and anterior communicating arteries in the normal adult brain to provide a clearer basis for strategy in surgery of skull base lesions. A-1 segments varied in length from 1.34 to 1.90cm(average 1.53cm). The length of the anterior communicating artery was usually between 1.0 to 3.4mm(average 1.73mm). The diameter of the A-1 segments varied from 1.45 to 2.50mm(average 1.9mm) and the anterior communicating artery diameters varied from 0.70 to 1.45mm(average 1.1mm). From 5 to 16 basal perforating arteries(average 9.7) exclusive of Heuber's artery arose from A-1 segment. The lateral half of A-1 was a richer source of perforating branches than the medial half;74% arose from the lateral half of the A-1 segment. They arose from posterior(47.4%), postero-superior(34%), and postero-inferior(18%) aspects of the artery. The anterior communicating artery gives off to 6 perforating branches(average 3.4) from its postero-superior(56%), posterior(26%), postero-inferior(15%), and anterior(12%) wall of the artery. Recurrent artery of Heubner was found to have its origin from the A-2 segment in 65%, from the A-1 segment in 10%, and at the level of the anterior communicating artery in 25%. 55% of the recurrent arteries coursed anterior to the A-1 segment and would have been seen upon elevating the frontal lobe prior to visualizing the A-1 segment. Among 10 anterior communicating arteries examined, double anterior communicating artery was found in 2 cases and triple in one case. Duplicating of a portion of A-1 segment was also found in one case.

MeSH Terms

Adult
Anterior Cerebral Artery*
Arteries*
Brain
Frontal Lobe
Humans
Skull Base