The polar (tuberothalamic) artery supplies the anterior pole of the thalamus (anterior nuclei and a portion of the anterior region of the dorsomedial nucleus) and is the only thalamic artery to branch off of the PCOM, and therefore the only that can be involved in an anterior circulation stroke. The remaining blood supply to the thalamus is posterior circulation via branches off of the PCA.

The paramedian (thalamic-subthalamic) artery is a branch of P1 of the PCA and supplies the remainder of the dorsomedial nucleus. The thalamogeniculate (inferolateral) artery is a branch of P2 of the PCA and supplies the medial geniculate nucleus (MGN). The posterior choroidal artery is also a branch of P2 of the PCA and supplies the lateral geniculate nucleus (LGN).