Artery of Percheron

Artery of Percheron
The arterial circle and arteries of the brain. The artery of Percheron (not shown) arise from either the left or right posterior cerebral artery (bottom forks)
Details
Source	Posterior cerebral artery
Supplies	Both sides of thalamus and midbrain
Anatomical terminology []

The artery of Percheron (AOP) is a rare anatomic variation in the brain vascularization in which a single arterial trunk arises from the posterior cerebral artery (PCA) to supply both sides of brain structures; the thalamus and midbrain.

The functions of the thalamus and midbrain include the regulation of consciousness, sleep and alertness. Occlusion of the artery of Percheron, for example by a clot, could result in a posterior circulation infarct impairing structures on both sides of the brain. This can produce a bizarre disturbance such as sleep from which the patient cannot be awakened.

The artery of Percheron was first described in 1973 by the French medical scientist Gerard Percheron.