[Durgical](https://durgical.com/en/) › [DurgiPedia](https://durgical.com/en/durgipedia/) › [Anatomy](https://durgical.com/en/anatomy/) › [Head and neck](https://durgical.com/en/anatomy/region/head-and-neck/) › Posterior cerebral artery [Cardiovascular system](https://durgical.com/en/anatomy/system/cardiovascular-system/) · [Head and neck](https://durgical.com/en/anatomy/region/head-and-neck/) # Posterior cerebral artery The posterior cerebral artery feeds the back of the brain, where vision is processed; a stroke here can cause loss of half the field of vision. [See in 3D →](https://durgical.app/?from=durgipedia&lang=en#region=head_neck&select=posterior_cerebral_artery&side=r) Opens in the Durgical app, no sign-up needed. ## What it is The end branches of the [basilar artery](https://durgical.com/en/anatomy/basilar-artery/), curving back around the midbrain. ## What it does Feeds the occipital lobe and lower [temporal lobe](https://durgical.com/en/anatomy/middle-temporal-gyrus/); a stroke here causes loss of half the visual field. ## Key points - Occipital infarct: opposite homonymous hemianopia with macular sparing, because the occipital pole also receives blood from the [middle cerebral artery](https://durgical.com/en/anatomy/middle-cerebral-artery/) - Dominant (left) side with the splenium involved: alexia without agraphia, so the person can write but cannot read what they wrote - Branches to the [thalamus](https://durgical.com/en/anatomy/thalamus/) and midbrain: thalamic pain syndrome (Dejerine–Roussy) or Weber syndrome (oculomotor palsy with weakness of the opposite side) - Both arteries blocked (for example at the top of the basilar): cortical blindness, sometimes denied by the person (Anton syndrome) ## Key facts **Origin** End of the basilar artery **Branches** Paramedian and thalamic perforators (interpeduncular); collicular (quadrigeminal) artery; posterior choroidal; temporal, calcarine, parieto-occipital **Supplies** Occipital lobe ([visual cortex](https://durgical.com/en/anatomy/cuneus/), cuneus), inferior temporal lobe except the pole, splenium of the [corpus callosum](https://durgical.com/en/anatomy/corpus-callosum/); deep: posterior two thirds of the thalamus, [geniculate bodies](https://durgical.com/en/anatomy/lateral-geniculate-body/), midbrain (cerebral peduncle, [red nucleus](https://durgical.com/en/anatomy/red-nucleus/)) ## Relations **Course** From the basilar bifurcation in the interpeduncular cistern (P1) it receives the [posterior communicating artery](https://durgical.com/en/anatomy/posterior-communicating-artery/), winds back around the cerebral peduncle above the [tentorium](https://durgical.com/en/anatomy/tentorium-cerebelli/) (P2) and reaches the medial [occipital lobe](https://durgical.com/en/anatomy/superior-occipital-gyri/), where it gives the calcarine and parieto-occipital branches **Below** [Oculomotor nerve](https://durgical.com/en/anatomy/oculomotor-nerve/), which passes between it and the [superior cerebellar artery](https://durgical.com/en/anatomy/superior-cerebellar-artery/); further back, the free edge of the tentorium cerebelli **Medial** [Midbrain](https://durgical.com/en/anatomy/midbrain/) (cerebral peduncle), with the [trochlear nerve](https://durgical.com/en/anatomy/trochlear-nerve/) running alongside in the ambient cistern ## How to find it It cannot be felt. It curves back around the midbrain, above the tentorial edge, alongside the oculomotor nerve, which leaves the brainstem between this artery and the superior cerebellar artery; its cortical branches run on the medial and lower surfaces of the occipital and temporal lobes. ## Examination - Confrontation visual fields: homonymous loss on the opposite side, often with central vision preserved ## On imaging Diffusion-weighted MRI shows the infarct in the occipital lobe, medial temporal lobe or thalamus; CT or MR angiography shows the occlusion. ## Clinical notes - Uncal herniation can pinch the artery against the tentorium and cause an occipital infarct - Infarcts of the medial temporal lobe ([hippocampus](https://durgical.com/en/anatomy/hippocampus/)) can cause memory loss ## Anatomical variants - Fetal-type artery: it fills mainly from the internal carotid through a large posterior communicating artery, with a small P1 - Artery of Percheron: a single P1 branch feeds both paramedian thalami, so its blockage gives bilateral thalamic infarcts with sudden drowsiness or coma ## Development In the embryo it is a branch of the internal carotid; the basilar artery takes over later, and when the carotid origin persists it becomes the fetal-type artery. ## Related conditions - [Ischaemic stroke](https://durgical.com/en/conditions/ischaemic-stroke/) ## Test yourself Think of the answer, then tap the question to see it. ## What visual deficit follows a posterior cerebral artery infarct of the occipital lobe, and why is the macula spared? Opposite homonymous hemianopia; the occipital pole also receives blood from the middle cerebral artery. ## What is alexia without agraphia, and which artery is involved? The person can write but not read; a dominant posterior cerebral artery infarct involving the splenium. ## What is Anton syndrome? Cortical blindness denied by the person, after both posterior cerebral arteries are blocked, for example at the basilar tip. ## What does occlusion of the artery of Percheron cause? Bilateral paramedian thalamic infarcts with sudden drowsiness or coma; it is a single P1 branch of the posterior cerebral artery. [Add to my cards (4)](https://durgical.app/estudiar/?add=/en/anatomy/posterior-cerebral-artery/) Educational information, not medical advice. For any symptom, see a health professional. ## Its names **Official Latin (TA2)** arteria posterior cerebri TA2 4565 **Official Spanish (DeCS)** Arteria Cerebral Posterior DeCS D020769 **English (TA2)** Posterior cerebral artery ## Related - [Posterior communicating artery](https://durgical.com/en/anatomy/posterior-communicating-artery/) - [Occipital lobe](https://durgical.com/en/anatomy/superior-occipital-gyri/) - [Visual cortex](https://durgical.com/en/anatomy/cuneus/) - [Thalamus](https://durgical.com/en/anatomy/thalamus/) - [Hippocampus](https://durgical.com/en/anatomy/hippocampus/) Sources: Terminologia Anatomica (TA2); [DeCS](https://decs.bvsalud.org/es/ths/resource/?id=34045); [Neuroanatomy, Posterior Cerebral Arteries](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK538474/). ## **Spotted a mistake?** We are always improving for the community. Tell us what is wrong and our team will review it. Report a mistake Representative model, for educational purposes only. --- Source: https://durgical.com/en/anatomy/posterior-cerebral-artery/ License: CC BY 4.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/). Cite as: DurgiPedia (durgical.com), https://durgical.com/en/anatomy/posterior-cerebral-artery/