Which region does the internal carotid artery primarily supply?

Which region does the internal carotid artery primarily supply?

• A. Anterior and middle brain
• B. Brainstem
• C. Cerebellum
• D. Spinal cord

Answer: (A)

The internal carotid artery forms the brain’s anterior circulation, delivering blood mainly to the anterior and middle portions of the cerebral hemispheres. It gives rise to the anterior cerebral and middle cerebral arteries, which perfuse the frontal and parietal lobes and the areas around them. In contrast, the brainstem and cerebellum rely mainly on the vertebrobasilar (posterior) circulation, and the spinal cord is supplied by spinal arteries that come from vertebral and other sources. So the region most consistently supplied by the internal carotid system is the anterior and middle brain.

The internal carotid artery forms the brain’s anterior circulation, delivering blood mainly to the anterior and middle portions of the cerebral hemispheres. It gives rise to the anterior cerebral and middle cerebral arteries, which perfuse the frontal and parietal lobes and the areas around them. In contrast, the brainstem and cerebellum rely mainly on the vertebrobasilar (posterior) circulation, and the spinal cord is supplied by spinal arteries that come from vertebral and other sources. So the region most consistently supplied by the internal carotid system is the anterior and middle brain.