39 - Circulation of the CNS Flashcards
Proportion of cardiac output required by CNS
~10-20%
Broad layout of CNS vasculature
Dense network of small vessels.
Densest in the grey matter, less dense in the white matter
What form the Circle of Willis?
Formed by vertebro-basilar system and internal carotid system
What form the basilar artery?
Vertebral arteries fusing.
Vertebral artery
Formed by a branch of subclavian arteries.
Ascends through spine, enters foramen magnum
Internal carotid artery
Branch of the common carotid artery.
Ascends through neck.
Enters through foramen lacerum
What does the internal carotid form in the Circle of Willis?
Two branches: anterior cerebral artery
Middle cerebral artery
What does the basilar artery form in the Circle of Willis?
Posterior cerebral artery
What links the anterior, middle and posterior cerebral arteries?
Posterior and anterior communicating arteries
Path of anterior cerebral artery
Arches around the corpus callosum.
Projects branches to medial frontal and parietal lobes through longitudinal fissure.
EG motor, somatosensory cortices of lower limb
Possible appearances of a blockage of anterior cerebral artery
Contralateral hemianaesthesia of lower limbs.
Contralateral spastic paralysis of lower limbs
Origin of middle cerebral artery
Internal carotid
Path of middle cerebral artery
Travels through lateral fissure to supply lateral surface of the brain.
Parts of brain, functions, supplied by middle cerebral artery
Frontal, parietal, occipital
Superior surface of temporal lobe
Motor, sensory cortices for most of the body.
If person has language lateralised to left hemisphere, language areas.
Possible effects of blocking middle cerebral artery
Spastic paralysis to most of the body.
Language problems.
Posterior cerebral artery supply
Supplies inferior temporal lobe, all medial occipital lobe
Possible functions impaired by blocking posterior cerebral artery
Contralateral visual field affected
Small perforating arteries
Branch from Circle of Willis.
Supply deep structures of cerebrum near where they branch.
Things supplied by anterior-most perforating arteries
Optic chiasm, anterior hypothalamus
Things supplied by lenticulostriate arteries
Basal ganglia, internal capsule
Things supplied by ventral perforating arteries
Ventral midbrain, posterior hypothalamus and thalamus
Things supplied by pontine perforating arteries
Ventral pons
From where does the ophthalmic artery branch?
Internal carotid, before it branches into the anterior and middle cerebral arteries
From where does the choroidal artery branch?
Internal carotid, before it branches into the anterior and middle cerebral arteries