Brain Vasculature

Question 1

describe the vasculature of the spinal cord

Answer 1

the anterior spinal artery is the largest and supplies the anterior two thirds of the spinal cord, running in the ventral midline.

there are two dorsal branches that are originally branches off the vertebral, but which are replinshed every 4-6 vertebrae

these are anastomses

Question 2

artery of adamkiewicz

Answer 2

artery that replenishes the dorsal spinal arteries in the thorax. if occluded, major cell death occurs

Question 3

what arteries supply the brain?

Answer 3

2 internal carotids and 2 vertebral

Question 4

describe the different entry pathways for the arteries supplying the brain

Answer 4

vertebral- transverse foramina and foramen magnum

internal carotid- carotid canal and cavernous sinus

Question 5

describe the order of branches off the vertebral artery in the brain

Answer 5

1. Posterior inferior cerebellar
2. anterior spinal artery
   3 anterior inferior cerebellar

at this point, the artery becomes called the basilar

4. pontine arteries
5. superior cerebellar artery
   6 posterior cerebral artery
   7 posterior communitcating

Question 6

describe the order of branches off the carotid artery in the brain

Answer 6

1. opthalmic branch
2. posterior communicating branch
   3 anterior cerebral artery (gives off anterior communicating)

at this point, the artery becomes the middle cerebral

Question 7

circle of willis

Answer 7

posterior cerebral - posterior communicating - internal carotid - anterior cerebral - anterior communicating - anterior cerebral- internal carotid - posterior communicating - posterior cerebral

Question 8

describe the vasculature supplying the medulla

Answer 8

low medulla-
anterior midline- anterior spinal
lateral- vertebral (mostly), PICA (posteriorly)
posterior- posterior spinal artery

high medulla
midline- anterior spinal artery and vertebral (more laterally)
laterally- PICA

Question 9

describe the vasculature of the pons

Answer 9

the lateral pons is supplied by the AICA, while medial pons is supplied by the basilar

Question 10

describe the vasculature of the midbrain

Answer 10

the lateral midbrain is supplied by the posterior cerebral and superior cerebellar arteries, while the medial midbrain is supplied by the basilar

Question 11

what does the posterior cerebral artery supply?

Answer 11

cortex- medial and inferior temporal, and occipital lobes

Question 12

what does the middle cerebral artery supply?

Answer 12

lateral cortex surrounding the sylvian fissure

branches of the middle cerebral artery emerge from the middle lateral fissure

Question 13

what does the anterior cerebral artery supply?

Answer 13

emerges medially and supplys superior and anterior hemispheres

Question 14

lenticulostriate arteries

Answer 14

deep perforating arteries that supply the deep cortex. found off middle cerebral

Question 15

watershed damage

Answer 15

areas between vessel distributions that are easily damaged by low blood pressure

Question 16

describe the sinus system

Answer 16

the sinuses are cavities within the dura. bridging veins supply the sinuses with blood, which then leaves

the superior sagittal sinus goes up over the brain at the midline

it meets with the straight sinus, which goes from posterior to anterior and gives off the inferior sagittal sinus

it also gives off two transverse sinuses, which course around the head laterally

these splint into a petrosal sinus, which gives off the cavernous sinus, and the sigmoid sinus, with the sigmoid sinus ultimately becoming the internal jugular

Question 17

falx cerebri

Answer 17

invagination of the dura mater from the superior sagittal sinus to the inferior sagittal sinus