Centrally located in the brain, the posterior cerebral artery makes up the lower portion of the circle of Willis. This arterial network also consists of posterior and anterior communicating arteries, as well as middle cerebral, anterior cerebral, internal carotid, and other arteries. Collectively, this network of blood vessels distributes oxygenated blood to several key regions within the brain.

The posterior cerebral artery makes up the lower boundary of the circle of Willis. Since this blood vessel is centrally located, it has many critical branches. These tributaries can be classed into the three categories: the central, the choroidal, and the cortical branches.

The posterior cerebral artery is susceptible to occlusion, a sudden blockage, usually resulting from a blood clot. This can cause a wide variety of symptoms, including vision loss, dizziness, memory loss, and language dysfunction.