Anatomical characteristics of the anterior communicating complex

Abstract

Cerebral circulation, especially arterial, in recent decades has attracted the interest of anatomists and clinicians. The anterior communicating complex is formed by the anterior cerebral artery and anterior communicating artery and adjacent branches. The aim of this study was to determine normal and variant vascular anatomy of the anterior communicating complex. The investigations of anatomical characteristics of the anterior communicating complex was made on 133 human brains from both sexes at age from 23 to 68. Brains were fixed in a 10% solution of formaldehyde, and the obtained material was analyzed using a stereoscopic light microscope. The length of the anterior communicating artery ranged from 0.6 to 7.6 mm, with mean value of 2.6 mm. The diameter ranged from 0.5 to 5.1 mm, with a mean value of 2.0 mm. In 54% of the cases anterior communicating artery was presented as a single artery connecting the anterior cerebral arteries. The most common variations of the anterior communicating artery were Y or V shaped (frequency 29%), plexular (frequency 8%), duplication (frequency 4%) and common trunk of anterior cerebral arteries with absence of anterior communicating artery (frequency 4%). The length of the A1 segment of ACA was in range from 6.8 to 20.8 mm on the left side and from 7.4 to 21.8 mm on the right side. The mean diameter of A1 segment of ACA was 2.2 mm on the left side and 2.0 mm on the right side. The most common variations of the A1 segment was hypoplasia (frequency 8%) and duplication (frequency 0.5%). Detailed anatomical knowledge of the anterior communicating complex is important when considering vascular surgery in the area of the anterior portion of the circle of Willis, since is the most common site of intracranial aneurysm formation.