Free medical quiz

Arterial Supply to the Brain Quiz

Focused SBA-style practice, followed by the answer and explanation for every question.

Free now: 5 questions
Full bank: 17 questions
Answers: Explained

Free question

Try one with the answer

A question from this quiz. Answer it to see the explanation students get.

Which artery supplies most of the lateral surface of the cerebral hemisphere?

A Middle cerebral artery ✓
B Anterior communicating artery
C Ophthalmic artery
D Anterior cerebral artery
E Posterior communicating artery

The answer is A: Middle cerebral artery

Explanation

Why A is correct

See Anterior Circulation. Option A is correct because the middle cerebral artery (MCA) is the artery of the lateral surface of the hemisphere. It is the direct continuation of the internal carotid artery, which enters the skull through the carotid canal (a channel in the temporal bone) and gives off the anterior cerebral, middle cerebral, posterior communicating and ophthalmic arteries. Once on the lateral cortex, the MCA splits into a superior and an inferior division. These supply the lateral parts of the frontal and parietal lobes and the superior part of the temporal lobe. Small branches called the lenticulostriate arteries arise before it divides and supply deep structures such as the basal ganglia (deep grey matter that helps control movement) and the internal capsule (the white matter pathway that carries motor fibres). The MCA is the cerebral artery most often affected by stroke. A memory aid: Middle = lateral, and Anterior = medial.

Artery: the middle cerebral artery (MCA) is the continuation of the internal carotid artery.
Territory: the lateral surface of the frontal and parietal lobes and the superior temporal lobe.
Deep branches: the lenticulostriate arteries supply the basal ganglia and internal capsule.

Why the other options are incorrect

B. Anterior communicating artery: The anterior communicating artery is a short vessel joining the two anterior cerebral arteries across the midline, and it does not supply a large area of cortex itself. It would be the answer for the link between the two anterior cerebral arteries.
C. Ophthalmic artery: The ophthalmic artery branches off the internal carotid artery and supplies the eye and orbit, not the cerebral cortex. A blockage typically causes loss of vision in one eye. It would be the answer for blood supply to the retina.
D. Anterior cerebral artery: The anterior cerebral artery supplies the medial surface of the frontal and parietal lobes, the part facing the midline, not the lateral surface. It would be the answer for the medial aspect of the frontal and parietal lobes.
E. Posterior communicating artery: The posterior communicating artery joins the internal carotid artery to the posterior cerebral artery as part of the circle of Willis. It is a connecting vessel with no large cortical territory of its own. It would be the answer for a question about linking the anterior and posterior circulations.

Easy

With Premium, questions you miss become Revision Coach flashcards, scheduled for review.

Question preview

What you will practise

More questions from this set. Start the quiz to answer them and see each explanation.

1
Which artery primarily supplies the medial aspect of the frontal and parietal lobes of the cerebral hemisphere?
2
A 58-year-old woman presents with sudden onset weakness affecting her right face and right arm more than her right leg. She also has expressive aphasia. Which artery is most likely to be occluded?

Revise before you test

Review SimpleMed's doctor-written article, then return here to check recall.

Read the topic article

Need wider coverage?

Explore every Neuroanatomy and Psychiatry topic set, or build a tailored mixed session.

Browse subject quizzes