Orbitofrontal branches of anterior cerebral artery

At a glance

English

Orbitofrontal branches of anterior cerebral artery

Latin (TA2)

Rami orbitofrontales arteriae cerebri anterioris

System

Artery

Region

Head

Side

Paired, left and right

About the orbitofrontal branches of anterior cerebral artery

The orbitofrontal branches of the anterior cerebral artery are usually the first cortical branches the artery gives off after it has passed the anterior communicating artery and turned up into the longitudinal fissure. Because they supply the medial part of the undersurface of the frontal lobe, they are also known as the medial orbitofrontal or medial frontobasal artery.

From their origin they run forward and downward onto the orbital surface of the frontal lobe, the part that rests on the roof of the orbit and the cribriform plate. There they supply the gyrus rectus, the medial parts of the orbital gyri, and the olfactory bulb and olfactory tract, which lie in the olfactory sulcus beside the gyrus rectus. The more lateral part of the orbital surface is supplied instead by orbitofrontal branches of the middle cerebral artery.

The branches are small but they lie in a region of great surgical interest. Aneurysms of the anterior communicating artery sit just behind their origin, and in clipping such an aneurysm, or in approaching tumours of the anterior skull base such as olfactory groove meningiomas, the surgeon must keep these vessels intact. Injury to the territory they supply, together with neighbouring frontal areas, may contribute to changes in personality, judgement and smell after such operations or after rupture of an aneurysm.

Course and supply

Arises from

The anterior cerebral artery, usually just beyond the anterior communicating artery.

Ends in

Ends in branches over the medial part of the orbital surface of the frontal lobe.

Supplies

Supplies the gyrus rectus, the medial orbital gyri and the olfactory bulb and tract.