artery of percheron artery of percheron the artery of percheron (aop) is a rare anatomical variation in the brain vascularization in which a single arterial trunk arises from the posterior cerebral artery (pca) to supply both sides of the thalamus and midbrain. artery of percherondiagram of the arterial circulation at the base of the brain (inferior view). the artery of percheron (not shown) arise from either the left or right posterior cerebral artery (bottom forks)detailssourceposterior cerebral arterysuppliesboth sides of thalamus and midbrainanatomical terminology clinical significance 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. history the artery of percheron was first described in 1973 by the french medical scientist gerard percheron.