Arterial Supply To Brain Flashcards
What are the main branches of brain blood supply
Internal carotid arteries
Vertebral arteries
How can you clinically organise blood supply to the brain
Anterior circulation
Posterior circulation
Connected by Circle of Willis
What is circle of Willis
What are it’s branches
Collateral branches between anterior and posterior circulation to allow diversion of blood in case of an occlusion
2 x Posterior communicating arteries: connects PCA + MCA
1 x Anterior communicating artery: connects ACAs
What artery gives rise to anterior circulation what are the branches
Internal carotid artery
Anterior cerebral artery
Middle cerebral artery
What artery gives rise to posterior circulation
What are its branches
Vertebral arteries - merge to form basilar artery
Posterior cerebral artery Superior cerebellar artery Anterior inferior cerebellar artery Posterior inferior cerebellar artery Pontine arteries Anterior spinal artery
What structures does MCA supply
What association areas
Lateral aspect of Frontal, Temporal, Parietal lobes
Internal capsule + Lentiform nucleus
Anterior part of corpus callosum
Primary motor cortex: UL, Face, Jaws, Lips
Primary somatosensory cortex: UL, Face, Jaws, Lips
Broca’s area
Wernicke area
What are lenticulostriate arteries
What are clinical features of occlusion of these vessels
Perforating branches of MCA that supply internal capsule and lentiform nucleus
Pure motor stroke: infarction of internal capsule affecting corticospinal tracts of Face, UL, Trunk, LL
What structures does ACA supply
What association areas
Medial aspect of Frontal, Parietal lobes
Primary motor cortex: Trunk, LL, Genitals
Primary somatosensory cortex: Trunk, LL, Genitals
How may you distinguish between ACA and MCA stroke
Why might this not be reliable
By difference in region of body with sensory loss/UMNL signs
ACA: medial aspect of homunculus
MCA: lateral aspect of homunculus
MCA supplies internal capsule so can also present with truncal + LL Motor signs
What structures does PCA supply
What association areas are involved
Occipital lobe
Inferior aspect of temporal lobe
Hippocampus (temporal lobe)
Thalamus
Primary visual cortex
How may you distinguish bw PCA and MCA occlusion
Why might this not be reliable
Presence of visual symptoms
Presence of memory symptoms
PCA supplies thalamus, may also have somatosensory symptoms
What structures do Cerebellar arteries supply
Cerebellum: Superior, anterior inferior, posterior inferior surfaces respectively
Brainstem:
Midbrain, pons, lateral medulla respectively
How may you distinguish between proximal and distal occlusion of cerebellar arteries
Why is this
Presence of brainstem signs with cerebellar signs in proximal occlusion
Cerebellar arteries give off perforating branches to brainstem as they travel across brainstem to cerebellum
What are pontine arteries
What structures do they supply
Perforating arteries arising from basilar artery that perforate pons
Corticospinal tracts
CN V-XII
How might occlusion of pontine arteries present
Locked in Syndrome
