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Intracranial Internal Carotid Artery

Main Text

TERMINOLOGY

Abbreviations

• Internal carotid artery (ICA)
• Ophthalmic artery (OA)
• Cavernous sinus (CS)

GROSS ANATOMY

Overview

• Complex course with several vertical/horizontal segments, 3 genus (1 petrous, 2 cavernous)
• 6 intracranial segments (cervical ICA = C1)

Petrous (C2), lacerum (C3), cavernous (C4)

Clinoid (C5), ophthalmic (C6), communicating (C7)

IMAGING ANATOMY

Segments, Branches

• Petrous (C2) segment

Contained within carotid canal of temporal bone

Surrounded by extensive sympathetic plexus

2 C2 subsegments joined at genu

– Short vertical segment [anterior to internal jugular vein (IJV)]

– “Genu” (where petrous ICA turns anteromedially in front of cochlea)

– Longer horizontal segment

Exits carotid canal at petrous apex

Branches

– Vidian artery (artery of pterygoid canal) anastomoses with external carotid artery (ECA)

– Caroticotympanic artery (supplies middle ear)
• Lacerum (C3) segment

Small segment that extends from petrous apex above foramen (f.) lacerum, curving upward toward CS

Covered by trigeminal ganglion

No branches
• Cavernous (C4) segment

3 subsegments joined by 2 genus (knees)

– Posterior vertical (ascending) portion

– Posterior (more medial) genu

– Horizontal segment

– Anterior (more lateral) genu

– Anterior vertical (subclinoid) segment

Covered by trigeminal ganglion posteriorly

Abducens nerve (CNVI) is inferolateral

Major branches

– Meningohypophyseal trunk (arises from posterior genu, supplies pituitary, tentorium, and clival dura)

– Inferolateral trunk arises from horizontal segment, supplies CS dura/cranial nerves; anastomoses with ECA branches through f. rotundum, spinosum, ovale
• Clinoid (C5) segment

Between proximal, distal dural rings of CS

Ends as ICA enters subarachnoid space near anterior clinoid process

No important branches unless OA arises within CS
• Ophthalmic (C6) segment

Extends from distal dural ring at superior clinoid to just below posterior communicating artery (PCoA) origin

2 important branches

– OA (originates from anterosuperior ICA, passes through optic canal to orbit; gives off ocular, lacrimal, muscular branches; extensive anastomoses with ECA )

– Superior hypophyseal artery (courses posteromedially; supplies anterior pituitary, infundibulum, optic nerve/chiasm)
• Communicating (C7) segment

Extends from below PCoA to terminal ICA bifurcation into anterior cerebral artery (ACA), middle cerebral artery (MCA)

Passes between optic (CNII), oculomotor (CNIII) nerves

Major branches

– PCoA

– Anterior choroidal artery (courses posteromedial, then turns superolateral in suprasellar cistern; enters temporal horn at choroidal fissure; supplies choroid plexus, medial temporal lobe, basal ganglia, posteroinferior internal capsule)

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Tags: Imaging Anatomy Brain and Spine

Mar 13, 2021 | Posted by admin in NUCLEAR MEDICINE | Comments Off

Main Text

TERMINOLOGY

Abbreviations

GROSS ANATOMY

Overview

IMAGING ANATOMY

Segments, Branches

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