Circle of Willis Reading

Question 1

common carotid arteries

Answer 1

blood vessel that branches off the aorta (or the brachiocephalic artery on the right) and supplies blood to the head and neck

Question 2

internal carotid arteries

Answer 2

branch from the common carotid artery that enters the cranium and supplies blood to the brain

Question 3

carotid canal

Answer 3

opening in the temporal bone through which the internal carotid artery enters the cranium

Question 4

vertebral arteries

Answer 4

arteries that ascend along either side of the vertebral column through the transverse foramina of the cervical vertebrae and enter the cranium through the foramen magnum

Question 5

foramen magnum

Answer 5

Large opening in the occipital bone of the skull through which the spinal cord emerges and the vertebral arteries enter the cranium

Question 6

anterior spinal artery

Answer 6

blood vessel from the merged branches of the vertebral arteries that runs along the anterior surface of the spinal cord

Question 7

basilar artery

Answer 7

blood vessel from the merged vertebral arteries that runs along the dorsal surface of the brain stem

Question 8

circle of Willis

Answer 8

unique anatomical arrangement of blood vessels around the base of the brain that maintains perfusion of blood into the brain even if one component of the structure is blocked or narrowed

Question 9

dural sinuses

Answer 9

any of the venous structures surrounding the brain, enclosed within the dura mater, which drain blood from the CNS to the common venous return of the jugular veins

Question 10

central canal

Answer 10

hollow space within the spinal cord that is the remnant of the center of the neural tube

Question 11

lateral ventricles

Answer 11

portions of the ventricular system that are in the region of the cerebrum

Question 12

third ventricle

Answer 12

portion of the ventricular system that is in the region of the diencephalon hypothalamus & thalamus

Question 13

interventricular foramina

Answer 13

openings between the lateral ventricles and third ventricle allowing for the passage of CSF

Question 14

cerebral aqueduct

Answer 14

connection of the ventricular system between the third and fourth ventricles located in the midbrain

Question 15

fourth ventricle

Answer 15

the portion of the ventricular system that is in the region of the brain stem and opens into the subarachnoid space through the median and lateral apertures

Question 16

median aperture

Answer 16

singular opening from the fourth ventricle into the subarachnoid space at the midline between the medulla and cerebellum

Question 17

lateral apertures

Answer 17

pair of openings from the fourth ventricle to the subarachnoid space on either side and between the medulla and cerebellum

Question 18

choroid plexus

Answer 18

specialized structures containing ependymal cells lining blood capillaries that filter blood to produce CSF in the four ventricles of the brain

Question 19

What blood vessel enters the cranium to supply the brain with fresh, oxygenated blood?

a. common carotid artery
b. jugular vein
c. internal carotid artery
d. aorta

Answer 19

A. Common Carotis Artery

Question 20

Which layer of the meninges surrounds and supports the sinuses that form the route through which blood drains from the CNS?

a. dura mater
b. arachnoid mater
c. subarachnoid
d. pia mater

Answer 20

c. subarachnoid

Question 21

What type of glial cell is responsible for filtering blood to produce CSF at the choroid plexus?

a. ependymal cell
b. astrocyte
c. oligodendrocyte
d. Schwann cell

Answer 21

A. Ependymal Cell

Question 22

Which portion of the ventricular system is found within the diencephalon?

a. lateral ventricles
b. third ventricle
c. cerebral aqueduct
d. fourth ventricle

Answer 22

B Third Ventricle