Acland's Video Atlas of Human Anatomy

Just above the optic chiasm, the two anterior cerebral arteries are connected to each other by this very short anterior commumicating artery, which is part of the arterial circle. The middle cerebral artery, which is the direct continuation of the internal carotid, curves laterally. It enters the lateral cerebral fissure between the frontal and temporal lobes. We'll follow it there shortly. The pale areas on this artery are patches of atheroma.