Proximal lateral striate branches
Small deep branches from the first part of the middle cerebral artery that supply the lentiform nucleus and internal capsule.
At a glance
- English
- Proximal lateral striate branches
- System
- Artery
- Region
- Head
- Side
- Paired, left and right
About the proximal lateral striate branches
The lateral striate, or lenticulostriate, arteries are slender vessels that arise from the first part of the middle cerebral artery as it runs laterally from the internal carotid towards the lateral sulcus. They turn upwards and enter the brain through the anterior perforated substance, a field pitted with small holes below the frontal lobe. Those that leave the artery closest to its origin are the proximal lateral striate branches; further branches arise more distally along the same segment.
Once inside the brain they curve upwards and medially through the lentiform nucleus. They supply the putamen and the lateral part of the globus pallidus, the upper parts of the anterior and posterior limbs of the internal capsule, and parts of the caudate nucleus. These are end arteries with few connections to their neighbours, so a blocked vessel cannot readily be replaced.
Because they branch at a sharp angle from a large artery and carry blood at high pressure into thin-walled small vessels, the lateral striate arteries are vulnerable to damage from long-standing high blood pressure. Narrowing of these vessels causes small deep lacunar infarcts, and rupture causes haemorrhage into the putamen and internal capsule, one of the commonest sites of hypertensive bleeding. The internal capsule carries motor fibres to the opposite side of the body, so even a small lesion here can give a dense weakness of the face, arm and leg. During surgery on middle cerebral artery aneurysms these vessels must be preserved.
Course and supply
- Arises from
- The first part of the middle cerebral artery, close to its origin from the internal carotid artery.
- Ends in
- End within the lentiform nucleus, internal capsule and caudate nucleus.
- Supplies
- Supply the putamen, the lateral globus pallidus, parts of the internal capsule and the caudate nucleus.
Anthromica
See the proximal lateral striate branches where it really sits, with every layer of the body around it.
- Every layer, one body. Peel from muscle to bone, nerve, vessel and organ, and turn it any way.
- English and Latin. Every structure named the way your exam names it.
- Quiz until it sticks. Short drills on the structures you keep missing.
Free to start. No card.
