Cerebral arterial circle

The cerebral arterial circle, or circle of Willis, is a ring of arteries located at the base of the brain.

In the dog, it receives blood mainly from:

• the two internal carotid arteries, on the right and left sides;

• the basilar artery, caudally.

The main arteries supplying the brain arise from this circle, including the rostral, middle and caudal cerebral arteries. Its main role is to connect the carotid and vertebrobasilar circulations and redistribute blood to the different regions of the brain.