The brain's arteries
Cerebral arteries and the circle of Willis · arteriae cerebri
A ring of linked arteries under the brain and the branches that supply each region.
What it does
The carotid and basilar arteries join in a ring under the brain called the circle of Willis. From it, the anterior, middle and posterior cerebral arteries spread over the brain. The middle cerebral artery supplies much of the side of the brain, including areas for movement and speech.
Surprising fact
The circle of Willis acts as a backup: if one main artery is blocked slowly, blood can reach the brain by the other route around the ring.
Why it matters
Most strokes happen when a cerebral artery is blocked by a clot. The acronym FAST, face, arms, speech, time, helps people recognise one and get help quickly.
Nearby
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Sources
Drafted with AI help; awaiting a human fact-check against these sources.
Open in the 3D atlas · Suggest a correction · Not medical advice.
3D models: Z-Anatomy & BodyParts3D (CC BY-SA 4.0 / 2.1 JP). Card text CC BY 4.0.