circle of Willis

noun

A circle of arteries at the base of the brain that is formed by the cerebral and communicating arteries and is a site of aneurysms.

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Meanings

nouncircle of Willis (plural circles of Willis)

plural circles of Willis · alternative Willis circle

  1. anatomyA circle of arteries at the base of the brain that is formed by the cerebral and communicating arteries and is a site of aneurysms.

Synonyms & antonyms

Also see
willis circle

Origin

Named after English physician Thomas Willis (1621–1675).

Full word history & related roots →
Cite this entry
APA

circle of Willis. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 2, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/circle%20of%20Willis

MLA

“circle of Willis.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/circle%20of%20Willis. Accessed November 2, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “circle of Willis,” accessed November 2, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/circle%20of%20Willis.

Source: circle of Willis on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.