The cerebrovascular system is a term for the blood vessels that carry blood to and from the brain. The arteries (shown in this illustration) are very important since they supply oxygenated blood to the brain. A blockage of blood flow in these arteries (due to atherosclerosis or blood clot formation) can cause a transient ischemic attack (TIA) or a stroke.

Figure 1: Arteries that carry blood to the brain.

Figure 2: Arteries that supply the brain tissue with oxygenated blood.