The circle of Willis (cerebral arterial circle or circulus arteriosus) is an anastomotic ring of

arteries located at the base of the brain. This arterial anastomotic circle connects the two major
arterial systems to the brain, the internal carotid arteries and the vertebrobasilar
(vertebral and basilar arteries) systems. It is formed by four paired vessels and a single
unpaired vessel with numerous branches that supply the brain. 

The circle of Willis is located on the inferior surface of the brain within the interpeduncular
cistern of the subarachnoid space. It encircles various structures within the interpeduncular
fossa (depression at the base of the brain) including the optic chiasm and infundibulum of
the pituitary gland.
Although significant anatomic variations exist, the circle of Willis is typically composed of
three cerebral and two communicating arteries that link the internal carotid arteries and the
vertebrobasilar system. The internal carotid arteries supply most of the forebrain. The
vertebrobasilar system is composed of two vertebral arteries and one basilar artery and supplies
the occipital lobe, brainstem and cerebellum

Anterior arc of the circle of Willis

Anteriorly, the short anterior communicating artery (AComm) forms an anastomotic channel

between the right and left anterior cerebral arteries (ACA), which are terminal branches of the
internal carotid artery within the cranial cavity.

The anterior cerebral arteries travel toward the anteromedial aspects of the interhemispheric
fissure of the brain, to supply the midline regions of the frontal, parietal and cingulate cortices as
well as the corpus callosum.

At the point of connection between the anterior cerebral and internal carotid arteries, the internal
carotid gives off its lateral terminal branch known as the middle cerebral artery (MCA).
Together with the AComm and the middle cerebral arteries, the anterior cerebral arteries form
the anterior cerebral circulation.

Posterior arc of the circle of willis

The posterior arc of the circle of Willis is formed by the posterior cerebral arteries (PCA), on

each side, and the posterior communicating arteries (PComm), which connect the posterior
cerebral arteries to their ipsilateral internal carotid arteries. 
The right and left vertebral arteries unite at the Pontomedullary junction to form the basilar
artery. The basilar artery then bifurcates into the paired posterior cerebral arteries at the superior
border of the pons. 

The vertebral arteries, basilar artery, posterior cerebral arteries, together with the PComm form
the posterior cerebral circulation. The posterior cerebral arteries through
their central and cortical branches supply the occipital lobe of the brain, the inferior aspect of
the temporal lobes, midbrain, thalamus and choroid plexus of the third and lateral ventricles
 References[edit]
 ^ Jump up to:a b Fenrich, Matija; Habjanovic, Karlo; Kajan, Josip; Heffer, Marija (2021). "The circle of Willis
revisited: Forebrain dehydration sensing facilitated by the anterior communicating artery: How hemodynamic
properties facilitate more good dehydration sensing in amniotes". BioEssays.  43  (2): Drake, R., Vogl, W.,
 Mitchell, A. & Gray, H. (2015). Gray's anatomy for students. Philadelphia, PA: Churchill
Livingstone/Elsevier. 
 Mancall, E. L., Brock, D. G., & Gray, H. (2011). Gray's clinical neuroanatomy: the anatomic basis for
clinical neuroscience. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier.
 Moore, K. L., Dalley, A. F., & Agur, A. M. R. (2014). Clinically Oriented Anatomy (7th ed.). Philadelphia,
PA: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.