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Fig. 1. Different patterns of the Circle of Willis

Diagrams showing different patterns of the circle of Willis, made from specimens of human brains.

• A - D - variations in the configuration of the anterior communicating artery are seen.
• B - F - the posterior communicating artery is the most Variable vessel, being asymmetric in its origin, diameters, and branches.
• C, D - Sometimes a branch from the posterior communicating artery parallels the anterior chorioidal artery, giving olf rami usually ascribed to the anterior chorioidal artery.
• E - the left posterior cerebral artery is a major branch of the internal carotid artery.
• F - the right posterior communicating artery is absent; the right anterior chorioidal artery branches from the right anterior cerebral artery; the arrow indicates a small aneurysm.

Circle of Willis (Willis' circle, loop of Willis, cerebral arterial circle, and Willis polygon) is named after Thomas Willis (1621–1675), an English physician.

Abbreviations to figures

Ant. cer. a., anterior cerebral artery

Post. inf. cereb. a., posterior inferior cerebellar artery

Ant. chor. a., anterior chorioidal artery

Ant. com. a., anterior communicating

Sup. cereb. a., superior cerebellar artery

artery Vert. a., vertebral artery

Ant. inf. cereb. a., anterior inferior cerebellar artery

II, optic nerve

III, oculomotor nerve

Ant. sp. a., anterior spinal artery

V, trigeminal nerve

Basil. a., basilar artery

VI, abducens nerve

Int. and. a., internal auditory artery

VII, facial nerve

Int. carot. a., internal carotid artery

VIII, cochlear nerve

Mid. cer. a., middle cerebral artery

IX, glossopharyngeal nerve

Post. cer. a., posterior cerebral artery

X , vagus nerve

Post. com. a., posterior communicating

XI, spinal accessory nerve

artery XII, hypoglossal nerve

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Reference

Gillilan, LA. Significant superficial anastomoses in the arterial blood supply to the human brain. J Comp Neurol. 1959 Jun;112:55-74. PMID 13850118[