Cerebral Blood Flow Flashcards
Describe the normal blood flow through the brain?
50-55 ml/100g of brain per minute
> Approx 750 ml/min for the entire brain or 15% of total resting cardiac output
Note: total cessation of blood flow to the brain causes unconsciousness within 5 to 10 sec
Describe the dual circulation to the brain?
anterior > carotid arteries
posterior > vertebral arteries
- they meet up to form the circle of Willis
Describe the anterior blood supply of the brain?
- common carotid
- external carotid artery
- internal carotid artery
- middle cerebral artery
> temporal + parietal lobes - anterior cerebral artery
> frontal lobes + superior medial parietal lobes - anterior communicating artery
> connect the anterior cerebral arteries of each side
Describe the posterior blood supply of the brain?
What it supplies?
- vertebral arteries
- posterior inferior cerebellar artery
> medulla + part of cerebellum - basilar artery
> mid-pons - anterior inferior cerebellar artery
> lateral pons + part of the cerebellum - superior cerebellar artery
- posterior cerebral artery
- posterior communicating artery
> connect posterior cerebral arteries to the internal carotids
What is the circle of willis?
a ring of connected arteries at the brain’s base, formed by the posterior cerebral and communicating arteries, the internal carotids, and the anterior cerebral and communicating arteries
What are the arteries of the circle of willis?
a ring of connected arteries at the brain’s base, formed by the
> posterior cerebral and communicating arteries
> the internal carotids, and the anterior cerebral and communicating arteries
Describe the venous drainage system of the brain?
- superficial surfaces
sagittal sinuses and cortical veins > jugular vein - deep structures
lateral sinus, straight sinus and sigmoid sinus > jugular vein
What are the 4 mechanisms that control cerebral blood flow?
- myogenic
- neurogenic
- endothelial
- metabolic
What is cerebral autoregulation?
the ability of the cerebral vasculature to maintain stable blood flow despite changes in blood pressure (cerebral perfusion pressure)
> Cerebral flow is autoregulated extremely well between the pressure limits of 60 & 140 mm Hg
Describe the myogenic control of arterial pressure?
- The myogenic tone gets produced when arteriole and small artery smooth muscle cells contract in response to increased pressure.
- myogenic tone relaxes in response to decreased pressure
What is neurogenic control of flow?
Neurogenic mediation of cerebral vasoreactivity involves the control of small- and medium-sized vessel diameters.
How is neurogenic control of flow achieved?
Neurons, astrocytes and microglia secrete a variety of neurotransmitters with vasoactive properties.
1. acetylcholine and nitric oxide
> are relatively potent vasodilators
2. serotonin and neuropeptide Y
> stimulate vasoconstriction
How are changes in blood flow in response to neuronal activation observed?
as the blood oxygen level-dependent (BOLD) signal employed in functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI)
Describe the endothelial control of flow?
The endothelium secretes
1. vasodilators > nitric oxide (NO)
2. vasoconstrictors > thromboxane A2 and endothelin-1 in a paracrine manner
What are the 3 metabolic factors which have effects in controlling cerebral blood flow and how do they do so?
- Carbon dioxide concentration
- Hydrogen ion concentration
- Oxygen concentration
> An increase in either carbon dioxide or hydrogen ion concentration increases cerebral blood flow
> Decrease in oxygen concentration increases the flow