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Cerebral arterial mapping in the equine brain: a detailed anatomical study.
Abstract: Detailed knowledge of the cerebral arterial system in equine brain is required for advancing neuroanatomical understanding and supporting the interpretation of neurological disorders. The equine cerebrum, characterized by extensive cortical organization and functional specialization, requires a continuous arterial blood supply; however, detailed information on its arterial anatomy remains limited. This study aimed to describe the arterial supply to the equine cerebrum, including the origin, branching patterns, and distribution of the major cerebral arteries. Unassigned: Ten adult horse heads were examined following formaldehyde fixation and colored latex injection through the common carotid arteries. Dissections were performed, and the arteries were documented using multi-angled photographic analysis. Unassigned: A complete and symmetrical circle of Willis was formed by internal carotid branches connecting the carotid and basilar systems. The rostral cerebral artery supplied the rostromedial cortex and corpus callosum; the middle cerebral artery supplied the lateral and dorsolateral cortical surfaces; and the caudal cerebral artery supplied the occipital and caudal temporal lobes. Minor anatomical variations were observed, including interhemispheric anastomoses in 60% of specimens; however, the overall arrangement remained consistent across the examined specimens ( = 10). Unassigned: These findings provide a detailed anatomical characterization of cerebral arterial branching patterns in the equine brain and serve as an anatomical reference that may support the interpretation of cerebral imaging and inform future comparative and clinical investigations.
Copyright © 2026 Al Aiyan, Abu Hayah, Alnahdi, Alshamsi, Alshebli, Aleissaee and Balan.
Publication Date: 2026-06-02 PubMed ID: 42311398PubMed Central: PMC13269203DOI: 10.3389/fvets.2026.1828754Google Scholar: Lookup The Equine Research Bank provides access to a large database of publicly available scientific literature. Inclusion in the Research Bank does not imply endorsement of study methods or findings by Mad Barn.
- Journal Article
Summary
This research summary has been generated with artificial intelligence and may contain errors and omissions. Refer to the original study to confirm details provided. Submit correction.
Overview
- This study provides a detailed anatomical description of the arterial blood supply to the horse brain, mapping the origin, branching patterns, and cortical distribution of major cerebral arteries.
- The findings clarify how blood reaches different brain regions via the circle of Willis and major cerebral arteries, offering valuable reference information for veterinary neuroscience and clinical diagnosis.
Background and Importance
- The equine brain has a complex cerebral cortex with specialized functions requiring a continuous and reliable blood supply.
- Understanding the detailed cerebral arterial anatomy is critical to interpreting neurological diseases, planning veterinary surgeries, and improving imaging diagnostics.
- Despite this significance, there has been limited comprehensive anatomical data specifically describing the cerebral arteries in horses.
Study Objectives
- To describe the major arteries supplying the equine cerebrum, including their origins and pathways.
- To document branching patterns and distribution areas of these arteries across the cerebral cortex.
- To examine the overall arterial architecture such as the configuration of the circle of Willis.
- To identify any anatomical variations that could be clinically relevant.
Materials and Methods
- Ten adult horse heads were collected and preserved using formaldehyde fixation.
- Colored latex was injected through the common carotid arteries to fill the arterial system for visualization.
- Careful dissection of the cerebral arteries was performed to expose their paths.
- Multi-angled photographic documentation was captured to record details of arterial branching and distribution.
Key Findings
- The circle of Willis in horses was found to be complete and symmetrical, formed by branches of the internal carotid arteries connecting carotid and basilar arterial systems.
- The rostral cerebral artery primarily supplied the rostromedial cortex and the corpus callosum, areas involved in higher cognitive functions and interhemispheric communication.
- The middle cerebral artery supplied the expansive lateral and dorsolateral cortical surfaces, areas involved in sensorimotor processing.
- The caudal cerebral artery supplied the occipital and caudal temporal lobes, which are essential for visual and auditory processing.
- Minor anatomical variations were observed, particularly interhemispheric anastomoses (connections between arterial branches crossing the midline), present in 60% of specimens.
- Despite these minor variations, the overall anatomical arrangement was consistent across all 10 specimens studied.
Implications and Applications
- The detailed arterial maps provide a foundational reference for veterinary neurologists and surgeons working with horses.
- This knowledge aids in the interpretation of cerebral imaging modalities such as MRI and angiography by correlating observed vascular patterns with normal anatomy or pathology.
- Understanding typical arterial distributions and variations can improve diagnosis and treatment planning for cerebrovascular diseases and traumatic injuries.
- The data contribute to comparative neuroanatomical studies, helping to relate equine brain vascularization to that of other species.
- Future clinical and experimental research can build upon this baseline anatomical information to explore mechanisms underlying equine neurological conditions.
Cite This Article
APA
Al Aiyan A, Abu Hayah S, Alnahdi AF, Alshamsi A, Alshebli H, Aleissaee S, Balan R.
(2026).
Cerebral arterial mapping in the equine brain: a detailed anatomical study.
Front Vet Sci, 13, 1828754.
https://doi.org/10.3389/fvets.2026.1828754 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, College of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, United Arab Emirates University, Al Ain, United Arab Emirates.
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, College of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, United Arab Emirates University, Al Ain, United Arab Emirates.
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, College of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, United Arab Emirates University, Al Ain, United Arab Emirates.
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, College of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, United Arab Emirates University, Al Ain, United Arab Emirates.
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, College of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, United Arab Emirates University, Al Ain, United Arab Emirates.
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, College of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, United Arab Emirates University, Al Ain, United Arab Emirates.
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, College of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, United Arab Emirates University, Al Ain, United Arab Emirates.
Conflict of Interest Statement
The author(s) declared that this work was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest.
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