Questions: What is the function of the cerebral arterial circle? The anterior and middle cerebral arteries arise from the artery. They serve the of the brain. Trace the pathway of a drop of blood from the aorta to the left occipital lobe of the brain, noting all structures through which it flows.

6. The function of the cerebral arterial circle, also known as the Circle of Willis, is to provide a collateral circulation to the brain. This means it acts as a safety mechanism to ensure that if one part of the brain's blood supply is blocked or narrowed, the other arteries can compensate by providing blood flow to the affected area. This helps maintain consistent blood flow and reduces the risk of ischemia.

7. The anterior and middle cerebral arteries arise from the internal carotid artery. They serve the frontal, parietal, and temporal lobes of the brain. The anterior cerebral artery primarily supplies the medial portions of the frontal lobes and superior medial parietal lobes, while the middle cerebral artery supplies the lateral aspects of the frontal, parietal, and temporal lobes.

8. To trace the pathway of a drop of blood from the aorta to the left occipital lobe of the brain, the blood would follow these steps:

   • Start at the aorta.
   • Move into the left common carotid artery.
   • Continue into the left internal carotid artery.
   • Enter the left posterior communicating artery.
   • Flow into the left posterior cerebral artery.
   • Finally, reach the left occipital lobe of the brain.

This pathway ensures that the blood reaches the occipital lobe, which is responsible for processing visual information.