The artery of Percheron (AOP) is a rare anatomical variation in the brain vascularization in which a single arterial trunk arises from the posterior cerebral artery (PCA) to supply both sides of the thalamus and midbrain.
Artery of Percheron | |
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Details | |
Source | Posterior cerebral artery |
Supplies | Both sides of thalamus and midbrain |
Anatomical terminology [edit on Wikidata] |
The functions of the thalamus and midbrain include the regulation of consciousness, sleep and alertness. Occlusion of the artery of Percheron, for example by a clot, could result in a posterior circulation infarct impairing structures on both sides of the brain. This can produce a bizarre disturbance such as sleep from which the patient cannot be awakened.[1]
The artery of Percheron was first described in 1973 by the French medical scientist Gerard Percheron.[2][3][4]