Cerebral Blood Flow And CNS Homeostasis Flashcards
How much blood is required for cerebral circulation?
750 ml/min required (14% of blood pump from heart every min)
The two internal carotids and the basilar artery join to form what?
The circle of Willis (very little mixing of blood from the different sources)
What is the impact of a block of blood flow in the circle of Willis?
Localized (discrete) areas of ischemia
Part of the brain not the entire brain which limits the amount of brain damage to occur
Describe the sympathetic innervation to the cerebral circulation
NTs: NE and neuropeptide Y (NPY)
Receptors: alpha adrenergic
Leads to vasoconstriction when systemic cardiac output/BP increases
Describe the parasympathetic innervation of the cerebral circulation
Innervation of the larger blood vessels
NTs: ACh, vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP) and PHM-27 (derived from pre-pro-VIP)
Causes vasodilation
Physiological relevance uncertain
What is the third source of innervation of the cerebral circulation?
Sensory innervation of the distal blood vessels
Describe sensory innervation to the cerebral circulation
NTs released and act on the blood vessels include substance P, neurokinin A and CGRP (can be used to treat migraines)
All cause dilation
These sensory fibers render the blood vessels of the brain extremely sensitive to torsion/manipulation and leads to pain
What is the role of sensory innervation to the cerebral circulation?
In the presence of reduced CSF volume the brain is effectively heavier and simple motion can cause pain because of the torsion of the blood vessels
The activation of those afferents will also cause vasodilation and increase blood flow (returns total intracranial volume closer to normal)
Cerebral blood is under what type of control?
Under local control
Oxygen consumption dictates where in the brain the blood will go
We use these changes in brain metabolism/blood flow to infer activity in a variety of circumstances (more active neurons = more blood flow)
How is cerebral blood flow strongly autoregulated?
It is held constant over a wide range of systemic (mean arterial) blood pressures
At which mean arterial BP values will cerebral blood flow remain constant?
60-140 mmHg which is the autoregulation of the cerebral blood flow meaning it is not controlled/dictated by the mean arterial BP
What influence does sympathetic innervation have on auto regulation?
The range of autoregulation is extended beyond 140 mmHg
Purpose is to protect the capillaries in the brain from damage by the high pressure
What is the importance of autoregulation of cerebral blood flow?
In the face of high BP which could damage the BBB sympathetic in the brain will vasoconstrict the vasculature
Although this will increase the systemic vascular resistance it protects the capillaries in the brain and the BBB from damage
Cerebral blood flow is also influenced by what factor?
Intracranial pressure
As intracranial pressure goes up venous outflow is obstructed leading to reduced arterial flow
A decrease in brain perfusion (blood flow) due to increased intracranial pressure will activate what?
Cardiovascular control centers in the medulla which will increase systemic BP (sometimes drastically, over 200mmHg)
What can increase intracranial pressure?
Hydrocephalus of any variety, cerebral edema (swelling of brain tissue) and intracranial bleeding
Tumors can also increase pressure
Describe CSF
Flows through the ventricles and around the brain and SC
150mL at any given moment
Not recirculated so structures have to make 550mL/day