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Background: The aim of this study was to investigate different anatomic variations and dimensions of anterior part of the circle of Willis (CW) and their prevalence on Kosovo's population. Materials and methods: This is an observational descriptive and retrospective study performed at the University Clinical Centre, Clinic of Radiology. The three-dimensional time-of-flight technique was used for magnetic resonance angiography imaging to evaluate the anatomy of the CW in 513 adults without clinical manifestations for cerebrovascular disease. The diameters of arteries of the CW were measured and variations were recorded. Results: The complete anterior part of CW was found in 64.3% of cases, more evident in female at about 66% than male 62.2%. Morphologic variations of the ACA1 are agenesis or hypoplasia in 5.65%, fusion of the anterior cerebral arteries (ACAs) on a short distance in 6.5% and fusion of the ACA on a long distance in 2.5%, median ACA is presented in 11 examined patients or 2.1%. Normal anterior communicating artery (ACoA) was seen in 68.2%, hypoplasia or absence 15.66%, double ACoA in 0.6% and fenestrations in 3.89%. The mean calibrations of the vessels were measured as 2.04 mm in right A1, 2.06 mm in left A1 and 1.16 mm of ACoA. While, 14.1 mm length of right A1, 13.87 mm of left A1 and 2.99 mm of ACoA. Conclusions: Knowledge of the variations and diameter of the anterior part of the CW has a great importance in determination of anatomical variations and diameter in general populations, also, in interventional radiology for various endovascular interventions as well as during anatomy lessons.

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Introduction: The middle cerebral artery is divided into four segments: proximal M1, insular M2, opercular M3 and cortical M4. M1 extends from the bifurcation point of ACI at ACA and ACM to the insula threshold, laterally from chiasma opticum, laterally from tractus opticus and caudally from trigonum olfactorium, directed laterally, dorsally and rostrally. Early division of the M1 segment into the fi nal trunk is possible at any of the fi rst points of the limb insulae. Material and methods: The study of the micromorphological and morphometric characteristics of the M1 segment was performed in 25 brain (50 ACM preparations) obtained from autopsy of both sexes of different ages without pathological changes. For the removal of the brain from the skull we used the usual technique of obduction. Results: This segment was arch-shaped, in 32 (64%) arteries, rarely S-shaped, in 12 (24%) arteries, much less straight alignment, in 6 (12%) arteries. The average length of the M1 segment of the S shape was 20.6±3.31mm, with a 19.8mm 4.41mm arch shape, while the straight shape was 16.9±3.62mm. The average S-shaped diameter was 2.7±0.51mm, arched 2.6±0.47mm, straight form 2.6±0.36mm. Variations of M1 branching were: common in 38 cases, early branching in 12 cases, joint trunk with cortical branch in 9 cases, lateral cortical branch in 21 cases, fi nal bifurcation in 24 cases, fi nal trifurcation in 13 cases, duplication in 1 case and M1 accessory in just 1 case. Conclusion: True bifurcation refers to the division of the M1 segment into two fi nal trunks. In cases where the strong joint cortical branch trunk divides from segment M1, while dividing into two terminal trunk immediately after ACM knee formation, it is described as false branching of M1 segment into three terminal branches.

Introduction. The optic nerve is supplied by the arterial branches of thesuperficial pial plexus and direct intraneural branches. The aim of the studywas to study the morphological characteristics (origin, number of arteries,calibers, and branching pattern) of perioptic arterial vascularization andintraoptic vascular network of the extracranial sections of the optic nerve:canalicular and intraorbital.Methods. The study included 18 pairs of the optic nerves of both sexes(11 males and 7 females), aged 51 to 78 years, with no signs of changes inthe structures of the nervous system. The vasculature of the optic nerveswas microdissected and examined under the stereoscopic microscope, afterinjecting their arteries with 10% mixture of India ink and gelatin, and5% formaline fixation.Results. The intracanalicular part of the optic nerve received fine bloodvessels from the ophthalmic artery, usually in two branches in 29 (82.9%)cases, while in 6 (17.1%) specimens there was only one branch for thenerve. The intraorbital segment of the optic nerve was supplied by twointerconnected systems of blood vessels, peripheral and axial, both comingfrom the central retinal artery.Conclusion. On the basis of the obtained results, it has been confirmedthat both segments of the optic nerve have a rich and very delicate vascularnetwork. The superficial pial arterial plexus of the intracanalicular segmentof the optic nerve has been identified as the only source of its vascularsupply. The intraorbital part of the optic nerve has two interconnectedsystems of blood vessels: peripheral and axial.