The MCA arises from the internal carotid artery and continues into the lateral sulcus where it then branches and projects to many parts of the lateral cerebral cortex.

It also supplies blood to the anterior temporal lobes and the insular cortices.

Other cases include duplication of the MCA at the internal carotid artery (ICA) or an accessory MCA (AccMCA) which arise not from the ICA but as a branch from the anterior cerebral artery.

[4] The middle trunk that exist in parts of the population, when present provides the pre-Rolandic, Rolandic, anterior parietal, posterior parietal and the angular artery for irrigation instead of the upper and lower trunks.

Areas supplied by the middle cerebral artery include: MCA occlusion site and resulting Aphasia Occlusion of the middle cerebral artery results in Middle cerebral artery syndrome, potentially showing the following defects: ocular group: central retinal