title: The anterior communicating artery has significant branches.
abstract: The anterior communicating artery was studied with the operating microscope in 10 autopsy cases. This vessel was present in all cases with reduplication in three. Arterial diameter ranged from 0.8 to 2.3 mm, with lengths of 5 to 10 mm. Branches of the anterior communicating artery were found in every case (range 3-13, average 5.4). Most branches were small (50-250 mu), but at least one large branch (250-1000 mu) was invariably present. Small ventral branches ramified on the optic chiasm. Small and large dorsal branches distributed themselves to lamina terminalis, hypothalamus, parolfactory areas, columns of fornix, and corpus callosum. Injury to these vessels caused by aneurysmal rupture or surgical manipulation may lead to serious clinical deficits.
mesh_terms: D002536:Cerebral Arteries / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D006801:Humans; D007031:Hypothalamus / Q000098:blood supply*