Anterolateral central arteries

The anterolateral central arteries or lenticulostriate arteries (also anterolateral perforating arteries, anterolateral ganglionic arteries, striate arteries, or lateral striate arteries) are a group of small arteries mostly arising from (the initial M1 part of) the middle cerebral artery that enter the brain through the anterior perforated substance to provide arterial supply to parts of the basal ganglia. They are end arteries.

The name of these arteries is derived from some of the structures they supply, namely the lentiform nucleus and the striatum.

Distribution
The ALCAs supply the:


 * posterior portion of the striatum
 * putamen
 * (head of) caudate nucleus
 * (lateral portion of) globus pallidus
 * (all parts of) internal capsule (anterior limb, genu, and - a portion of - posterior limb )
 * claustrum
 * external capsule

The medial striate artery (Recurrent artery of Heubner) arises either from the middle cerebral artery or anterior cerebral artery, and supplies the rostral/anterior portion of the caudate nucleus and putamen, and the anterior limb and genu of internal capsule.

Clinical significance
Blockage of the lenticulostriate arteries causes lacunar infarcts. These infarcts are most often due to hyaline arteriosclerosis secondary to hypertension. This can lead to contralateral paresis (muscular weakness) and/or sensory loss of the face and body.