[Arterial and Venous Vascularization of the Corpus Callosum]

Blood supply of the corpus callosum is assured by two arterial systems, the carotid system mainly and the vertebrobasilar system accessorily. The carotid system intervenes via the pericallosal artery, portion of the anterior cerebral artery distal to the anterior communicating artery. This pericallosal artery can be bihemispheric in 4 to 12% of the cases or azygos in 0.26% of cases. In 20 to 80% of cases, the median callosal artery arises from the communicating artery. The vertebrobasilar system intervenes in splenium vascularization by its terminal branches. These two carotid and vertebrobasilar systems give rise to perforating arteries that assure intrinsic vascularization of the corpus callosum creating a system of regular vascular stitches around the fibers of the corpus callosum. The venous drainage of the corpus callosum is essentially via callosal veins and callosocingulate veins towards the deep venous system of the brain.