Blood supply to the brain

Question 1

Arteries to the brain

Answer 1

Left and right external carotid arteries
Left and right internal carotid arteries
Left and right vertebral arteries (pass through foramen in cervical vertebrae 1-6)

Question 2

Circle of willis

Answer 2

Ensures brain receives normal blood flow even when one artery is occluded by creating a loop

Anterior communicating artery *
Anterior cerebral artery
Middle cerebral artery
Posterior communicating artery *
Posterior cerebral artery
Superior cerebral artery
Basilar artery *
Vertebral artery

*large portion of people don’t have all three therefor don’t have a complete circle of wilis

Question 3

Aneurysm

Answer 3

Generally occurs when blood vessel splits or turns which causes blood to flow turbulently, causing large changes in pressure. This weakens vessel walls causing walk to balloon out due to excess stress.
Treatment - aneurysm clipping or endovascular coiling

Question 4

Aneurysm clipping

Answer 4

Clip neck of aneurysm to preveng blood entry and exit

Question 5

Endovascular coiling

Answer 5

Enter at femoral artery, travel up to brain via abdominal aorta, thoracic aorta, internal catotid, into artery containing aneurysm, use balloon catheter to block aneurysm opening, other catheter injects platinum coils into aneurysm to block it off from blood supply

Question 6

Ischemic stroke

Answer 6

Reduced flow due to plaque in vessel
Causes tissue death in brain
Repaired by stent (an expanding cage to reverse occlusion)

Question 7

Haemorrhagic stroke

Answer 7

Aneurysm rupture

Destroys neural tissue in brain

Question 8

Blood supply outside the brain (dura mater)

Answer 8

Maxillary artery supplies middle meningeal arteries

Question 9

Extrafural haemorrhage

Answer 9

Blood pooling in the space between the skull and dura mater. Puts pressure on the rest of the brain causing midline shift in brain matter.