Blood circulation of the brain

Question 1

What is the path of venous drainage from the Superior and Inferior sagittal sinus?

Answer 1

• Superior sagittal sinus drains into the confluence of sinuses (posterior skull). From here, drainage follows the transverse sinus bilaterally into the sigmoid sinus before draining into the Int Jugular vein
• Inferior sagittal sinus drains into the Straight sinus before draining into the Confluence of sinuses and then into the transverse sinus bilaterally. From here, drainage enters the sigmoid sinus before draining into the Int Jugular vein

Question 2

The cavernous sinus receives drainage from which 4 main veins?

Answer 2

• Superior ophthalmic vein (B/L)
• Inferior ophthalmic vein (B/L)
• Sphenoparietal sinus (B/L)
• Emissary veins from pterygoid plexus (from face)

Question 3

Where does the cavernous sinus drain blood to?

Answer 3

• Superior and Inferior petrosal veins
• Directly into Int Jugular Vein
• Intercavernous sinus

Question 4

Where do the superior and inferior petrosal sinus drain into?

Answer 4

Sigmoid sinus

Question 5

Where does the vertebral artery arise from and what does it become?

Answer 5

Arises as the first branch of the subclavian artery and travels up through the transverse processes of C6 upwards

Left and Right vertebral arteries unite to form the Basilar artery

Question 6

Which vessel provides the largest volume of blood to the cerebellum and where does it originate from?

Answer 6

Posterior inferior cerebellar artery

Arises as a branch from vertebral artery

Question 7

What is PICA syndrome?

Answer 7

Occlusion of the posterior inferior cerebellar artery

Causes DANISH symptoms

Question 8

What are the 3 vessels that supply blood to the cerebellum and where do they arise from?

Answer 8

• Posterior inferior cerebellar artery (from vertebral artery)
• Anterior inferior cerebellar artery (from basilar artery)
• Superior cerebellar artery (from basilar)

Question 9

Which artery branches off from the ICA just before it joins the circle of willis?

Answer 9

Ophthalmic artery (end artery)

Question 10

What is the largest branch of the ICA?

Answer 10

Middle cerebral artery (is not part of the circle of willis)

Question 11

What are the branches of the middle cerebral artery?

Answer 11

• Orbital branch
• Frontal branch
• Parietal branch
• Temporal branch

Question 12

Which vessels anastomose to form the circle of willis?

Answer 12

• Anterior cerebral arteries (from ICA)
• Posterior communicating arteries
• Posterior cerebral arteries