title: Microsurgical anatomy of the anterior cerebral artery in Indian cadavers.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The microanatomy features of cerebral arteries may be variable and may be different in different ethnic groups.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To study the anterior cerebral artery (ACA) anatomy in North-West Indian cadavers.
  
  
  METHODS
  Microanatomy features of the ACA were studied in 15 formalin fixed human cadaveric brains under microscope. The outer diameter, length, and number of perforating branches with respective anomalies were measured for each of the following vessels: ACA (proximal A1 segment to distal A2 segment), anterior communicating artery (ACoA), Recurrent artery of Heubner (RAH), and callosomarginal artery and photographed for documentation.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean length and external diameter of right and left A1 segment was 12.09 mm and 12.0 mm and 2.32 mm and 2.36 mm respectively. Narrowing, duplication, and median ACA were seen in 6.6%, 3.3% and 6.6% of the vessels respectively. Complex ACoA type was seen in 40% cadavers. RAH originated at an average point of 0.2 mm distal to ACoA, but in one cadaver it arose 5 mm proximal to ACoA. Double RAH was found in 26.6%. The course of RAH in relation to A1 was superiorly in 60%, in anteriorly 30% and posteriorly in 10% of cadavers. The orbitofrontal artery (OFA) and frontopolar artery (FPA) arose from A2 in 83.3% to 40% respectively. The mean distance of OFA and FPA from ACoA was 4.17 mm and 8.5 mm respectively. After giving rise to central, callosal and cortical branches, pericallosal artery terminated near the splenium of the corpus callosum or on the precuneus as the inferomedial parietal artery.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Knowledge of the microvascular anatomy is indispensable and it is mandatory to be aware of the possible variations in the anomalies to minimize morbidity.
authors: Department of Neurosurgery, Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh, India.
authors: Shweta
authors: S
authors: Kedia
authors: Sahni
authors: S
authors: Daisy
authors: Kanchan Kumar
authors: KK
authors: Mukherjee
authors: Pravin
authors: P
authors: Salunke
authors: Rakshith
authors: R
authors: Srinivasa
authors: Mathuriya Suresh
authors: MS
authors: Narain
mesh_terms: D020771:Anterior Cerebral Artery / Q000002:abnormalities / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D006801:Humans; D007194:India; D044465:White People