The circle of Willis is just showing off with its branches!
This is a system of arteries that sits at the base of the brain. The photo shows the basilar artery branching off into the vertebral arteries and cerebellar arteries (at the bottom) and the circle of Willis (at the top). These vessels branch from the internal carotid arteries on each side, which branches laterally into the middle cerebral artery that gives branches toward the front and back of the brain, into the anterior and posterior cerebral arteries. The paired arteries are interconnected and communicating, thus giving us the Circle of Willis, in a way that helps preserve blood flow in the brain.The middle cerebral artery is often invoked in the case of stroke, aneurysms, and rupture which subsequently leads to intracranial bleeding (subarachnoid hemorrhage) and is an emergency situation.