View source for Middle cerebral artery

{{Infobox Artery |
  Name        = Middle cerebral artery |
  Latin       = arteria cerebri media |
  GraySubject = 146 |
  GrayPage    = 572 |
  Image       = Gray517.png |
  Caption     = Outer surface of cerebral hemisphere, showing areas supplied by cerebral arteries. (Pink is region supplied by middle cerebral artery.) |
  Image2      = Circle_of_Willis_en_svg.png |
  Caption2    = The [[circle of Willis|arterial circle]] and arteries of the brain.  The '''middle cerebral arteries''' (top of figure) arise from the [[internal carotid arteries]]. |
  BranchFrom  = [[internal carotid arteries]] |
  BranchTo    = [[anterolateral central arteries]] |
  Vein        = [[middle cerebral vein]] |
  Supplies    = [[cerebrum]] |
  MeshName    = |
  MeshNumber  = |
  DorlandsPre = a_61 |
  DorlandsSuf = 12153812  |
}}

{{CMG}}



==Overview==

The '''middle cerebral artery''' (MCA) is one of the three major paired [[artery|arteries]] that supplies [[blood]] to the [[brain]]. The MCA arises from the internal [[carotid]] and continues into the [[lateral sulcus]] where it then branches and projects to many parts of the lateral cerebral cortex. It also supplies blood to the anterior [[temporal lobe]]s and the [[insular cortex|insular cortices]].  

The MCAs rise from trifurcations of the [[internal carotid artery|internal carotid arteries]] and thus are connected to the [[anterior cerebral artery|anterior cerebral arteries]] and the [[posterior communicating artery|posterior communicating arteries]], which connect to the [[posterior cerebral artery|posterior cerebral arteries]].  The MCAs are not considered a part of the [[Circle of Willis]].<ref>Moore KL, Dalley AR. ''Clinically Oriented Anatomy'', 4th Ed., Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, Toronto. Copyright 1999. ISBN 0-683-06141-0.</ref>

==Areas supplied==
Areas supplied by the middle cerebral artery include:

# The bulk of the lateral surface of the hemisphere. Exceptions are the superior inch of the [[frontal lobe]] and [[parietal lobe]] and the inferior part of the [[temporal lobe]] and the [[occipital pole]], which are supplied by the [[posterior cerebral artery]].
# Part of the [[internal capsule]] and [[basal ganglia]].

==Occlusion==
Occlusion of the middle cerebral artery may result in the following defects:

# [[Paralysis]] of the contralateral face and arm.
# Sensory loss in the contralateral face and arm.
# [[Aphasia]] (e.g. [[Broca's]], [[Wernicke's]], conduction, and [[anomic]] types) when the dominant hemisphere (usually the left hemisphere for [[right handed]] individuals) is affected
# Contralateral [[neglect syndrome]] with damage to the right hemisphere
# [[Homonymous hemianopsia|Homonymous]] [[hemianopia]] or [[quadrantanopia]].

==Additional images==
<gallery>
 Image:Gray516.png|The arteries of the base of the brain.
 Image:Gray518.png|Medial surface of cerebral hemisphere, showing areas supplied by cerebral arteries.
 Image:Cerebral Cortex location.jpg|Location of the cerebral cortex
</gallery>

==Reference==
<references/> 

==External link==
* {{LoyolaMedEd|Neuro/neurovasc/navigation/mca.htm}}
* {{SUNYAnatomyLabs|28|09|02|15}}
* {{RocheLexicon|13048.000-1}}
* [http://www.neuropat.dote.hu/table/erell.htm Blood supply at neuropat.dote.hu]

{{Arteries of head and neck}}

[[Category:Arteries]]
[[Category:Head and neck]]
[[Category:Anatomy]]



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[[no:Arteria cerebri media]]
[[ja:中大脳動脈]]

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