Cerebral Vasculature Flashcards
What 3 main vessels supply blood to the brain?
Vertebral artery
Common carotid artery
Internal carotid
Describe the venous drainage of the brain
Blood starts in the cerebral veins
Drains into dural venous sinuses
Eventually ends up in the internal jugular vein
What are the 4 types of haemorrhage? Describe where the bleed is for each
Extradural- above the dura mater, underneath the skull
Subdural- between the dura and arachnoid mater
Subarachnoid- between the arachnoid and pia mater
Intracerebral- inside the brain a blood vessel ruptures
What are the 4 types of haemorrhage? Describe how each is caused
Extradural- trauma, has immediate clinical effects (arterial and high pressure)
Subdural- trauma, can have delayed clinical effects (venous and low pressure)
Subarachnoid- ruptured aneurysm
Intracerebral- spontaneous hyeprtensive
What are the 2 causes of stroke and how common are they?
Thrombo embolic (85%) Haemorrhage (15 %)
Define transient ischaemic attack
Rapidly developing focal disturbance of brain function of presumed vascular origin that resolves completely within 24 hours
Define infarction
Degenerative changes that arise due to occlusion of an artery
Define cerebral ischaemia
Lack of blood flow to cerebral tissue that results in permanent damage if blood supply is not quickly restored
Define thrombosis
Formation of a blood clot
Define embolism
Occlusion of a small vessel via material carried from a large vessel
What is the acronym for identifying a stroke and what does it stand for?
FAST
Face- one side may droop
Arms- can’t lift both and keep them up
Speech- cant speak, speech slurred or garbled
Time- time to call 999
What are risk factors for stroke?
Age Hypertension Cardiac disease Smoking Diabetes mellitus
What artery supplies the superior anterior surface of the brain?
Anterior cerebral artery
What artery supplies the lateral surfaces of the brain?
Middle cerebral artery
What artery supplies the posterior inferior surface of the brain?
Posterior cerebral artery
What are the names of the 3 cerebral arteries that supply the surface of the brain?
Anterior, middle and posterior
What are symptoms of stroke originating in the anterior cerebral artery?
Paralysis of contralateral structures (mainly legs)
Disturbance of intellect, executive functions and judgement
Loss of social behaviour
What are symptoms of stroke originating in the middle cerebral artery?
Classic stroke
Contralateral hemiplegia (more arm than leg)
Contralateral hemisensory deficits
Hemianopia (loss of one vision on one side of visual field)
Aphasia (unable to produce speech)
What are the 5 main sinuses?
Superior sagittal Straight Confluence Transverse Sigmoid
What is the definition of stroke?
Rapidly developing focal disturbance of brain function of presumed vascular origin and of >24 hours duration
What type of stroke is arterial? How does it clinically present?
Extradural, presents acutely
What type of stroke is venous? How does it clinically present?
Subdural, presents delayed
What type of stroke is hypertensive?
Intracerebral/parenchymal
