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Hypoplastic plexiform right anterior cerebral artery and absence of anterior communicating artery—A case report

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  1. 1 Melaka Manipal Medical College (Manipal Campus), Manipal University, Manipal, India
  2. 2 Department of Anatomy Melaka Manipal Medical College, Manipal University, Manipal, India
Forensic Medicine and Anatomy Research·Volume 01, Issue 3·Pages 47–49·Published 11 July 2013·DOI10.4236/fmar.2013.13009
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Abstract

Anterior cerebral artery is the smaller terminal branch of the internal carotid artery. It is one of the arteries involved in the formation of the arterial circle of Willis at the base of the brain. Its hypoplasia or absence can cause serious problems during neurosurgery or in the vascular dynamics of the brain. We found a rare variation of the right anterior cerebral artery during the dissection of the brain. The initial segment of the artery was hypoplastic and plexiform. The anterior communicating artery was absent. The right and left anterior cerebral arteries fused with each other for a distance of about 1 cm. The course, size and distribution of the distal part of the right anterior cerebral artery were normal. This case may be of special importance to neurosurgeonsand radiologists. Obstructionor rupture of the left anterior cerebral artery in such cases might result in infarct of the medial surfaces of both cerebral hemispheres.

KeywordsAnterior Cerebral ArteryCircle of WillisBrainVariationAnterior Communicating Artery
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