Collicular artery

The collicular artery is a small but significant blood vessel in the brain, primarily involved in supplying blood to the midbrain. It is a branch of the posterior cerebral artery, which is one of the major arteries forming the circle of Willis.

Diagram showing the collicular artery and its branches.

Anatomy

The collicular artery originates from the posterior cerebral artery, which itself is a terminal branch of the basilar artery. The collicular artery travels posteriorly to supply the tectum of the midbrain, including the superior colliculus and inferior colliculus. These structures are involved in visual and auditory processing, respectively.

Function

The primary function of the collicular artery is to provide oxygenated blood to the superior and inferior colliculi. The superior colliculus is involved in the control of eye movements and visual attention, while the inferior colliculus plays a crucial role in the auditory pathway, processing sound information from the ears before it is relayed to the thalamus and auditory cortex.

Clinical significance

Occlusion or damage to the collicular artery can lead to deficits in visual and auditory processing. Such vascular events may result in conditions like Parinaud's syndrome, which is characterized by vertical gaze palsy due to damage to the superior colliculus and surrounding structures.

Related pages

• Posterior cerebral artery
• Circle of Willis
• Midbrain
• Superior colliculus
• Inferior colliculus