Cerebral Vasculature

Question 1

What are the four parts of the internal carotid artery?

Answer 1

The cervical, the petrous, the cavernous, and the cerebral.

Question 2

What branches does the internal carotid give off after exiting the cavernous sinus?

Answer 2

The ophthalmic artery, the anterior choroidal artery, and the posterior communicating artery.

Question 3

What does the ophthalmic artery supply?

Answer 3

The eye and orbit.

Question 4

What does the anterior choroidal artery supply?

Answer 4

The optic tract, choroid plexus, thalamus, and part of the internal capsule.

Question 5

What does the posterior communicating artery do?

Answer 5

It connects the posterior cerebral arteries (from the vertebral) to the internal carotid and circle of willis. Supplies the hypothalamus and ventral thalamus.

Question 6

What does the internal carotid do after giving off branches after exiting the cavernous sinus?

Answer 6

It bifurcates.

Question 7

What does the internal carotid give off after bifurcating?

Answer 7

It forms the anterior cerebral artery (ACA) and middle cerebral artery (MCA).

Question 8

What does the anterior cerebral artery (ACA) supply?

Answer 8

The medial portions of the frontal and parietal lobes, the olfactory bulb/tract, and motorsensory cortices for the contralateral leg and foot.

Question 9

What does the middle cerebral artery (MCA) supply?

Answer 9

The lateral portion of the cerebral hemisphere, including Broca’a area, Wernicke’s area, and motor-sensory cortices of the contralateral trunk/arm/face.

Question 10

What do the vertebral arteries give off before merging into the basilar artery?

Answer 10

The anterior spinal, the posterior spinal, and posterior inferior cerebellar artery (PICA).

Question 11

What does the anterior spinal artery supply?

Answer 11

The anterior 2/3 of the spinal cord as well as part of the inferior medulla.

Question 12

What does the posterior spinal artery supply?

Answer 12

The posterior spinal cord.

Question 13

What does the posterior inferior cerebellar artery (PICA) supply?

Answer 13

The inferior cerebellum and lateral medulla.

Question 14

What does the basilar artery give off?

Answer 14

The anterior inferior cerebellar artery (AICA), the superior cerebellar, and pontine arteries.

Question 15

What does the anterior inferior cerebellar artery (AICA) supply?

Answer 15

The anterior/inferior cerebellum and inferior part of the pons.

Question 16

What does the superior cerebellar artery supply?

Answer 16

The superior cerebellum and part of the midbrain and pons.

Question 17

What do the pontine arteries supply?

Answer 17

The pons as well as the inner ear through the labyrinthine artery.

Question 18

After giving off the aforementioned branches, what does the basilar artery do?

Answer 18

It bifurcates.

Question 19

What does the basilar artery bifurcate into?

Answer 19

The posterior cerebral arteries (PCA).

Question 20

What do the medial cerebral arteries supply? (Eastwood definition)

Answer 20

The insula, most of the lateral hemisphere, and some deep structures.

Question 21

What is the insula?

Answer 21

A deep cortex located within the lateral sulcus (separating the temporal lobe from the frontal and parietal).

Question 22

What are the lenticulostriate arteries?

Answer 22

Perforating arteries of the MCA that supply the basal ganglia and internal white matter.

Question 23

What is the blood supply of the basal ganglia and internal white matter?

Answer 23

The lenticulostriate arteries (LSA) and Medial striate arteries (MSA, branch off the anterior cerebral artery/ACA).

Question 24

What are lenticulostriate arteries commonly involved with?

Answer 24

Strokes.

Question 25

What do the posterior cerebral arteries (PCA) supply?

Answer 25

The medial/inferior surfaces of the occipital and temporal lobes. Also supply part of the midbrain and diencephalon, as well as the choroid plexus of the 3rd ventricle and lateral body of the lateral ventricles.

Question 26

What is the general pattern of cerebral venous drainage?

Answer 26

Cerebral veins drain into dural sinuses which ultimately drain into the IJV.

Question 27

Where do most superficial cerebral veins drain?

Answer 27

The superior sagittal sinus (SSS).

Question 28

Where do most deep cerebral veins drain?

Answer 28

The straight sinus.

Question 29

What is the pattern of venous drainage for the cerebellum and brainstem?

Answer 29

Veins draining the cerebellum and brainstem drain into the great vein and into the straight, transverse, and petrosal sinuses.