Two pairs of arteries supply blood to the brain: the vertebral arteries and the carotid arteries. The vertebral arteries converge near the base of the pons to form the unpaired basilar artery. The vertebral and basal arteries supply blood to the brain stem and cerebellum. At the level of the midbrain, the basilar artery splits into left and right superior cerebellar arteries and the posterior cerebral arteries. The posterior cerebral arteries send branches, called posterior communicating arteries, that connect them to the internal carotids. The internal carotids branch to form the middle cerebral arteries and the anterior cerebral arteries. The anterior cerebral arteries of each side are connected by the anterior communicating artery. Thus, the posterior cerebral and communicating arteries, the carotids, and the anterior cerebral and communicating arteries form a ring of connected arteries at the brain's base. This ring is called the 'circle of Willis'.
Basilar artery
Posterior communicating artery
Internal carotid artery
Middle cerebral artery
Anterior communicating artery
Anterior cerebral artery
Posterior cerebral artery
Superior cerebral artery
Vertebral arteries
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