Question

Site not affected in posterior cerebral artery infarct is?

• A. Midbrain
• B. Pons
• C. Thalamus
• D. Striate cortex

Hint:

The pons is fed by pontine branches of the basilar artery, not the PCA.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is B

Step 1: Recall the posterior cerebral artery (PCA) territory. The PCA is the terminal branch of the basilar artery and supplies the occipital lobe, the inferomedial temporal lobe, and through its perforating branches the midbrain and the thalamus.
Step 2: Match each option. The midbrain is supplied by paramedian and short circumferential branches of the PCA and basilar tip, so it can be involved. The thalamus receives the thalamoperforating and thalamogeniculate branches from the PCA, so it can be involved. The striate (primary visual) cortex in the occipital lobe is the classic cortical territory of the PCA, so it is involved and produces homonymous hemianopia.
Step 3: Identify the odd one out. The pons is supplied by the pontine perforating branches that arise directly from the basilar artery, not from the PCA.
Step 4: Conclusion. A PCA infarct does not affect the pons.
Hence the correct answer is option B, Pons.