middle cerebral artery

Origin

internal carotid artery (terminal branch)

Course

• passes laterally around the pole of the temporal lobe
• runs in lateral fissure between frontal & temporal lobes

Distribution

• sphenoidal part or segment (M1)
  • perforating branches to:
• internal capsule
• thalamus
• striatum
• insular part or segment (M2)*
  • branches to:
• insula
• adjacent cerebral cortex
• terminal or cortical part (M2)*
  • branches to the central cerebral cortex (large part)
• gives off frontal, parietal & temporal branches
• supplies sensorimotor string except for dorsal part for the lower extremities & auditory cortex

* insular & cortical segments collectively referred to as M2

More general terms

• artery