Anterior communicating artery (ACOM)

Synonyms
ACOM, ACoA

The anterior communicating artery connects the right and left anterior cerebral arteries.

Anatomy

The anterior communicating artery is approximately 2.6 mm long and 1–2 mm thick on average and arises from the Anterior cerebral artery. It provides an important connection between the vascular territories of the two Internal carotid arteries. The artery is variable in configuration and may be duplicated, triplicated, V-shaped, Y-shaped, or plexiform.

Figure

Schematic anterior communicating artery
Schematic illustration of the anterior communicating artery, as well as the A1 and A2 segments of the anterior cerebral artery on both sides.
Circulus arteriosus Willisii
Anatomical drawing of the circulus arteriosus Willisii adapted from Henry Gray (1918), Anatomy of the Human Body.

Imaging

CT angiography – anterior communicating artery
The anterior communicating artery (red arrow) on CT angiography.

Clinical relevance

The anterior communicating artery is the most common location for the occurrence of intracranial Aneurysms[^1].

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