10/18 CV clinical correlates

Question 1

• What are watershed areas?

Answer 1

• Arterial end-zones. Areas between major arterial supplies (ACA/MCA, MCA/PCA) or at the end of small arteries. Damage occurs after drop in bp.

Question 2

• Describe the basilar artery

Answer 2

• Single midline artery formed from junction of bilateral vertebral arteries. Courses superior and anterior over ventral pons. Multiple small perforating branches supply pons. Major branches: anterior inferior cerebellar arteries, superior cerebellar arteries, posterior cerebral arteries (final branches from tip)

Question 3

• Anterior spinal syndrome

Answer 3

• Often caused by embolism due to surgery complications or trauma. Anterolateral damage causes loss of pain and temp below lesion. Anterior horn produces lmn weakness at level of lesion. Larger lesions include CST and cause UMN symptoms below. Posterior cord rarely affected due to 2 posterior arteries. Posterior cord same but fine touch and proprioception and vibration below lesion