Which MCA segment courses over the insular area in the lateral sulcus and commonly bifurcates into superior and inferior cortical branches?

Which MCA segment courses over the insular area in the lateral sulcus and commonly bifurcates into superior and inferior cortical branches?

• A. M1
• B. M2
• C. M3
• D. M4

Answer: (B)

The important idea is that after entering the Sylvian fissure, the middle cerebral artery becomes an insular segment that runs right over the insular cortex within the lateral sulcus. This part of the artery commonly splits into a superior division and an inferior division, with each tract supplying different areas along the lateral surface of the hemisphere. The superior division tends to feed portions of the frontal and parietal opercular regions, while the inferior division supplies parts of the temporal lobe and the inferior parietal areas. Other MCA segments have different paths (before entering the Sylvian fissure or on the cortical surface beyond), but the insular segment is the one that courses over the insula and commonly bifurcates into the two cortical branches.

The important idea is that after entering the Sylvian fissure, the middle cerebral artery becomes an insular segment that runs right over the insular cortex within the lateral sulcus. This part of the artery commonly splits into a superior division and an inferior division, with each tract supplying different areas along the lateral surface of the hemisphere. The superior division tends to feed portions of the frontal and parietal opercular regions, while the inferior division supplies parts of the temporal lobe and the inferior parietal areas. Other MCA segments have different paths (before entering the Sylvian fissure or on the cortical surface beyond), but the insular segment is the one that courses over the insula and commonly bifurcates into the two cortical branches.