Anterior Cerebral Artery (Skull), Superior View

Description

Viewed from superior within a cut-away skull, the paired anterior cerebral arteries course anteromedially over the interhemispheric fissure, then sweep posteriorly along the superior surface of the corpus callosum as the pericallosal arteries. A short anterior communicating artery bridges the left and right A1 segments just anterior to the optic chiasm region, completing the anterior portion of the Circle of Willis. Posteriorly in the same field, the vertebral arteries unite at the pontomedullary junction to form the basilar artery, and the internal carotid arteries can be followed as they contribute to the circle and give rise to proximal branches. Clean midline symmetry. Clear proximal anatomy. That A1 to ACom junction is the commonest site of intracranial saccular aneurysm, and a superior view clarifies why rupture often tracks into the interhemispheric cistern and why subarachnoid blood frequently surrounds the optic apparatus. For surgical planning, this perspective maps the relationship of the ACom complex to midline landmarks and helps explain how hypoplasia of one A1 segment shifts collateral dependence across the anterior communicating artery during internal carotid stenosis or occlusion. Neuroanatomy and neurovascular modules use this plate to teach Circle of Willis variants, proximal ACA segments, and collateral pathways without the visual noise of deep lateral structures. It also fits neurosurgery and neuroradiology teaching files when correlating CTA, MRA, or DSA projections with the ACom aneurysm workup and common clipping or endovascular access considerations. Anatomical accuracy verified by SciePro's Medical Advisory Board.