Blood Supply to the Brain Flashcards
What proportion of body weight does the brain make up?
2%
How much cardiac output does the brain receive?
15%
How much total body oxygen does the brain use?
20%
How much total body glucose does the brain use?
25%
What is the average brain blood flow?
46mL/100g of brain per minute
What causes unconsciousness?
20 seconds of anoxia
> 5 minutes = permanent unconsciousness
By is blood flow regulated?
Auto-regulation
What is the normal rate of cerebral blood flow?
Normotensive cerebral blood flow = 50mL per 100g of brain tissue per minute when cerebral perfusion pressure is between 60-160mmHg
What increases cerebral blood flow?
Low oxygen
High cCO2
What are cerebral arteries like?
Thin walled, easily blocked/distorted/ruptured
What are cerebral veins like?
No valves, thin walled, no muscles or elasticity to help return
What is the main arterial supply to the brain?
Internal carotid - 80%
Vertebral arteries - 20%
What does a normal angiogram show?
Anterior communicating and posterior communicating are closed
What are some common variations of the circle of willis seen on an angiogram?
- one posterior communicating small and one large
- anterior communicating is large
What are the main posterior circulation branches?
- vertebral arteries
- basilar artery
- posterior cerebral artery
What do the vertebral arteries supply?
- spinal cord -> posterior and anterior spinal arteries
- dorsal medulla of brainstem -> PICA
What does the basilar artery supply?
Pons and cerebellum
What does the posterior cerebral artery supply?
- inferior and medial aspects of temporal and occipital cortex
- thalamus and posterior internal capsule
- midbrain