
The cerebral circulation has a unique system that allows for compensatory flow when any one of the 4 vessels is narrowed or occluded.
This cerebral circulation is centered on the circle of Willis which has two basic systems that feed it;
the carotid system (in this case salmon pink) and the vertebro-basilar system (brighter pink).
They both feed into the circle of Willis (bright red) via communicating branches.
The middle cerebral artery is the vessel that feeds into the COW by providing the anterior communicating artery.
The posterior cerebral artery connects via the posterior communicating artery.
Conceptually as depicted in this diagram the circle of Willis is the centre of the cerebral circulation and from it, blood flows into the anterior (bright green), middle (darker green) and posterior cerebral (maroon) regions.
Ashley Davidoff MD Copyright 2018
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Image derived from an MRI – MRA of the carotid arteries
Ashley Davidoff MD Copyright 2018
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Image derived from an MRI – MRA of the carotid arteries
Ashley Davidoff MD Copyright 2018
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Image derived from an MRI – MRA of the carotid arteries
Ashley Davidoff MD Copyright 2018
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The artistic rendition of the MRI MRA of the extracerebral and intracerebral circulation
Ashley Davidoff MD Copyright 2018
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The artistic rendition of a “brain flower” from an MRI MRA of the intracerebral circulation
Ashley Davidoff MD Copyright 2018
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The artistic rendition of a “brain flower” from an MRI/ MRA of the intracerebral circulation
Ashley Davidoff MD Copyright 2018
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The artistic rendition of a “brain flower” from an MRI/ MRA of the intracerebral circulation
Ashley Davidoff MD Copyright 2018
46352b07.800

The artistic rendition of a “brain flower” from an MRI/ MRA of the intracerebral circulation
Ashley Davidoff MD Copyright 2018
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The artistic rendition of a music and dance in the brain is created by adding images of the brain from an MRI/MRA
Ashley Davidoff MD Copyright 2018
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The artistic rendition of a collage of “brain flower” from an MRI/ MRA of the intracerebral circulation
Ashley Davidoff MD Copyright 2018