The internal carotid arteries give rise to which two major cerebral arteries?

• A. Anterior Cerebral Artery and Middle Cerebral Artery
• B. Posterior Cerebral Artery and Basilar Artery
• C. Vertebral Artery and Basilar Artery
• D. Internal Carotid Artery and Posterior Communicating Artery

Answer: (A)

The internal carotid arteries give rise to the anterior cerebral artery and the middle cerebral artery. The anterior cerebral artery travels along the medial surface of the hemisphere, supplying the medial frontal and parietal lobes (including areas involved in leg movement and sensation). The middle cerebral artery moves laterally through the Sylvian fissure and covers the lateral aspects of the hemisphere, providing blood to most of the frontal, parietal, and temporal lobes, including regions for motor and sensory control of the face and arm and, in the dominant hemisphere, language areas. The posterior cerebral artery and basilar artery belong to the posterior circulation and arise from the basilar system, not directly from the internal carotid; the posterior communicating artery is a connecting vessel, not one of the main arteries arising directly from the internal carotid.