Which artery is the principal supplier of the occipital lobe?

• A. Posterior cerebral artery
• B. Middle cerebral artery
• C. Anterior cerebral artery
• D. Basilar artery

Answer: (A)

The occipital lobe is supplied mainly by the posterior cerebral arteries. These arteries arise from the basilar artery in the posterior circulation and reach the occipital cortex, including the primary visual cortex around the calcarine fissure. This makes the posterior cerebral arteries the principal source of blood for the occipital lobe. The middle cerebral artery primarily supplies the lateral hemispheres and areas involved in language and motor/sensory functions, not the primary visual cortex. The anterior cerebral artery covers the medial surfaces of the hemispheres, including portions of the frontal and parietal lobes, while the basilar artery is the main trunk that gives rise to the PCAs rather than directly feeding the occipital cortex.