Circulation of the CNS

Question 1

Which two vascular systems provide input to the circle of willis?

Answer 1

the vertebrobasilar system and the internal carotid

Question 2

What is the internal carotid a branch of?

Answer 2

the common carotid

Question 3

What is the vertebral artery a branch of?

Answer 3

subclavian

Question 4

Where does the vertebral artery travel?

Answer 4

ascends through transverse foramina and enters the skull through the foramen magnum

Question 5

What is the basilar artery?

Answer 5

the two vertebral arteries united

Question 6

What are the three main branches of the circle of willis?

Answer 6

the anterior, middle and posterior cerebral arteries

Question 7

What does the anterior communicating artery join?

Answer 7

the anterior cerebral arteries

Question 8

What does the posterior communicating artery join?

Answer 8

the posterior cerebral artery to the internal carotid

Question 9

What is the course of the anterior cerebral artery?

Answer 9

branches off the internal carotid and travels through the longitudinal fissure over the top of the corpus callosum

Question 10

What area of the cortex is supplied by the anterior cerebral artery?

Answer 10

the medial surface of the frontal and parietal lobes, including the medial part of the primary motor cortex and the primary somatosensory cortex (lower limb areas)

Question 11

What would be the predicted effect of a stroke in the anterior cerebral artery?

Answer 11

contralateral hemi sensory loss and contralateral hemiparesis in the lower limb

Question 12

What is the course of the middle cerebral artery?

Answer 12

branches off the internal carotid and projects laterally through the lateral fissure

Question 13

What area of the cortex is supplied by the middle cerebral artery?

Answer 13

the lateral surface of the frontal, parietal, temporal and occipital lobes including the primary motor and primary somatosensory cortex (except lower limb)

Question 14

If a stroke causes a language deficit which artery is probably involved?

Answer 14

the middle cerebral artery

Question 15

What is the course of the posterior cerebral artery?

Answer 15

terminal branch of the basilar artery at the pontomedullary junction and then travels back towards the occipital lobes

Question 16

What area of the cortex is supplied by the posterior cerebral artery?

Answer 16

the medial and inferior surfaces of the temporal and occipital lobes

Question 17

If a stroke causes loss of contralateral visual field which artery is probably involved?

Answer 17

the posterior cerebral artery

Question 18

Where do the anterior perforating branches come off and what do they supply?

Answer 18

branch off the anterior communicating artery and supply the optic chiasm and hypothalamus

Question 19

Where do the posterior perforating branches come off and what do they supply?

Answer 19

branch off the posterior cerebral arteries and supply the ventral midbrain and the posterior part of the hypothalamus

Question 20

Where do the lenticulostriate arteries branch off and what do they supply?

Answer 20

branch of the middle cerebral artery and supply the basal ganglia and internal capsule

Question 21

Where do the pontine branches come off and what do they supply?

Answer 21

branch off the basilar artery and supply the pons

Question 22

What is the ophthalmic artery a branch of and what does it supply?

Answer 22

branch of the internal carotid and supplies the eye, top of nasal cavity and front of scalp

Question 23

What is the anterior choroidal artery a branch of and what does it supply?

Answer 23

branch of the internal carotid and supplies the optic tract and hippocampus as it follows the curve of the lateral ventricles

Question 24

What are the branches of the vertebrobasilar system?

Answer 24

anterior spinal artery (vertebral), posterior inferior cerebellar artery (vertebral), anterior inferior cerebellar artery (basilar), superior cerebellar artery (basilar)

Question 25

What is the blood supply to the cerebellum?

Answer 25

posterior inferior cerebellar artery, anterior inferior cerebellar artery, superior cerebellar artery

Question 26

What is the blood supply to the midbrain?

Answer 26

the posterior cerebral artery and the superior cerebellar artery

Question 27

What is the blood supply to the pons?

Answer 27

pontine branches of the basilar artery

Question 28

what is the blood supply to the medulla?

Answer 28

anterior spinal artery medially, vertebral artery to the olives and the posterior inferior cerebellar artery posterolaterally

Question 29

What is the functional outcome of a CVA in the anterior spinal artery?

Answer 29

loss of function of the hypoglossal nucleus results in ipsilateral atrophy of tongue muscles, damage to medial lemniscus causes contralateral hemisensory loss, damage to pyramids results in contralateral hemiparesis

Question 30

What is the blood supply to the spinal cord?

Answer 30

anterior spinal artery ventrally and the posterior spinal arteries posterolaterally