Summary
Both the Heubner's artery and the perforating branches of the anterior cerebral artery (ACA) were present in all thirty-three examined brains. Heubner's arteries varied in number from 1 to 3. They originated from the distal (A2) segment of the ACA in 34% of the cases, from the proximal (A1) segment of the ACA in 17%, at the level of the anterior communicating artery in 21%, from the fenestration of the ACA in 8%, and in all the other cases (20%) from the azygous anterior cerebral artery, accessory middle cerebral artery, frontopolar artery and, finally, by the common stem with the medial orbitofrontal artery. Heubner's artery most commonly terminated dorsal and lateral to the carotid bifurcation, at an average distance of 4.8 mm. The mean diameter of Heubner's artery was 662 μm, that of its extracerebral collateral branches 205 μm, of the terminal branches 462 μm, and of the intracerebral segments 354 μm. Perforating branches varied in number from 1 to 12 with an average of 6.6. The majority of the branches originated from the initial 6.1 mm of the A1 segment. These vessels terminated close to the carotid bifurcation, at an average distance of 3.8 mm. All the perforating branches were divided into small (average 122 μm in diameter) and large (average 325 μm). The mean diameter of intracerebral segments was 276 μm, and that of terminal branches 259 μm. It was concluded that the anatomical characteristics of both the recurrent artery and the perforating branches can be of a great significance in cerebrovascular diseases.
Résumé
L'artère de Heubner et les rameaux perforants de l'artère cérébrale antérieure (ACA) ont été observés sur les 33 cerveaux examinés. L'artère de Heubner varie en nombre de 1 à 3 par hémisphère; cette artère prend naissance de la portion distale (A2) de l'ACA dans 34% des cas, de la portion proximale (A1) dans 17%, du niveau de l'artère communicante antérieure dans 21%, d'une fenestration de l'ACA dans 8%; dans les 20% des cas restants l'artère est issue du tronc azygos de l'ACA, de l'artère cérébrale moyenne accessoire, de l'artère fronto-polaire ou d'un tronc commun avec l'artère orbito-frontale médiale. La terminaison habituelle de l'artère de Heubner se situe en arrière et en dehors de la carotide interne à une distance moyenne de 4,8 mm. Le diamètre moyen de l'artère de Heubner est de 662 μm, des collatérales extracérébrales de 205 μm, des branches terminales de 462 μm, et des branches intracérébrales de 354 μm. Le nombre de rameaux perforants de l'ACA varie de 1 à 12 (6,6 en moyenne); la plupart d'entre eux naissent de la partie initiale du segment A1 qui mesure 6,1 mm, et se terminent près de la carotide interne à une distance moyenne de 3,8 mm.
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Marinković, S., Milisavljević, M. & Kovačević, M. Anatomical bases for surgical approach to the initial segment of the anterior cerebral artery. Surg Radiol Anat 8, 7–18 (1986). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02539703
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02539703