posterior cerebral artery posterior cerebral artery the posterior cerebral artery (pca) is one of a pair of cerebral arteries that supply oxygenated blood to the occipital lobe, part of the back of the human brain. the two arteries originate from the distal end of the basilar artery, where it bifurcates into the left and right posterior cerebral arteries. these anastomose with the middle cerebral arteries and internal carotid arteries via the posterior communicating arteries. posterior cerebral arterythe outer surface of the human brain, with the area supplied by the posterior cerebral artery shown in yellow.the arterial circle and arteries of the brain (inferior view). the posterior cerebral arteries (bottom forks) arise from the basilar artery (center).detailssourcebasilar artery (most common in adults)veincerebral veinssuppliesoccipital lobe of cerebrumidentifierslatinarteria cerebri posterioracronym(s)pcameshd020769ta98a12.2.07.082ta24565fma50583anatomical terminology structure the posterior cerebral artery is subdivided into 4 segments: p1: pre-communicating segment originated at the termination of the basilar artery may give rise to the artery of percheron if present p2: post-communicating segment from the pcom around the midbrain terminates as it enters the quadrigeminal ganglion gives rise to the choroidal branches (medial and lateral posterior choroidal arteries) p3: quadrigeminal segment courses posteromedially through the quadrigeminal cistern terminates as it enters the sulk of the occipital lobe p4: cortical segment within the sulci of the occipital lobe the branches of the posterior cerebral artery are divided into two sets, ganglionic and cortical. central branches