posterior cerebral artery

Origin

formed by bifurcation of the basilar artery

Course

• curves around cerebral peduncle & reaches medial surface beneath the splenium of the corpus callosum; gives off temporal, calcarine, parieto-occipital branches

Branches

• precommunicating part (P1)
  • posteromedial central arteries
  • short circumferential arteries
  • thalamoperforating arteries
  • collicular arteries
• postcommunicating part (P2)
  • posterolateral central arteries
  • posterior medial choroidal branches
  • posterior lateral choroidal branches
  • peduncular branches
  • thalamogeniculate artery
• terminal or cortical part (P3) also referred to as the lateral occipital artery

More general terms

• artery

Additional terms

• lateral occipital artery