Cerebrovascular Anatomy › Advanced Topics

Thalamic Arteries

Notes

Thalamic Arteries

THALAMOTUBERAL ARTERY:

  • Emanates from the posterior communicating artery.
    • Alternate names - anterior thalamoperforating artery, premammillary artery, and polar artery.
  • Supplies the anterior thalamus, specifically the ventroanterior nucleus, ventrolateral nucleus, and the anterior portion of the medial thalamic nuclei.

MEDIAL BRANCH OF THE POSTERIOR CHOROIDAL ARTERY:

  • Emerges from the posterior cerebral artery (PCA) lateral to the posterior communicating artery.
  • Supplies the medial thalamus (the medial posterior pulvinar and medial geniculate body (of the metathalamus)).
    • Dorsally, its arterial supply extends anteriorly.
    • Ventrally, its distribution is more posterior.

LATERAL POSTERIOR CHOROIDAL ARTERY:

  • Emerges lateral to the medial posterior choroidal artery.
  • Supplies the lateral pulvinar, dorsomedial thalamic nucleus, and lateral geniculate body (of the metathalamus).
    • Dorsally its supply is restricted to the medial posterior thalamus.
    • Ventrally its supply extends out laterally.

THALAMOPERFORATING ARTERIES:

  • Emanate from the PCA medial to the posterior communicating artery.
    • Alternate names - thalamic-subthalamic arteries, paramedian arteries, posterior inferior optic arteries, and deep interpeduncular profunda arteries.
  • Supply the medial portion of the thalamus.
    • Dorsally, the medial extent of their supply ends at the medial posterior choroidal artery territory.
    • Ventrally, their supply extends to the medial edge of the thalamus.

ARTERY OF PERCHERON:

  • The Artery of Percheron is an anatomic variant wherein this common stem emanates from one PCA and provides thalamoperforating branches to the bilateral medial thalamic and extra-thalamic thalamoperforating territories.

THALAMOGENICULATE ARTERIES:

  • Lie in between the posterior choroidal arteries.
  • Supply the lateral thalamus and help supply the geniculate bodies.
    • Dorsally, their supply extends posteriorly.
    • Ventrally, it extends anteriorly.

THALAMIC ARTERIES also help supply many other diencephalic structures - the hypothalamus, subthalamus, optic tracts, and internal capsule; and they also help supply certain upper brainstem structures, as well as the choroid plexus and hippocampus.