Occlusion of which artery typically results in deficits in vision and memory?

• A. Anterior Cerebral Artery
• B. Middle Cerebral Artery
• C. Posterior Cerebral Artery
• D. Posterior Communicating Artery

Answer: (C)

The posterior cerebral artery is the vessel involved. It supplies the occipital lobes responsible for vision and the medial temporal structures, including the hippocampus, which are essential for forming and retaining memories. When this artery is blocked, you can see visual disturbances due to occipital involvement and memory problems from hippocampal/medial temporal involvement. The other arteries feed different regions—anterior cerebral artery mainly affects medial frontal areas (leg motor/sensory and behavior), middle cerebral artery affects lateral surfaces (language and upper limb function), and the posterior communicating artery is more associated with eye movement and related issues. So, deficits in both vision and memory point to occlusion of the posterior cerebral artery.