CNS Blood Supply

Question 1

what 2 arteries supply the brain

Answer 1

internal carotid (ICA) and vertebral arteries (vertibrobasilar)

Question 2

anterior circulation of the brain is supplied by what

Answer 2

internal carotid

Question 3

posterior circulation of the brain is supplied by what

Answer 3

vertebral artery

Question 4

what are the major branches of the internal carotid artery

Answer 4

anterior cerebral arteries

middle cerebral arteries (most common cause of stroke)

posterior communicating artery

ophthalmic artery

Question 5

ophthalmic artery runs through what

Answer 5

through optic canal with the optic nerve

Question 6

from where does the central artery of the retina branch and what can happen if this artery is occluded

Answer 6

branches from ophthalmic artery

occluded (i.e. from diabetes) could cause blindness or vision problems

Question 7

right and left cerebral arteries are connected by what

Answer 7

anterior communicating artery

Question 8

what do the anterior cerebral arteries supply

Answer 8

anterior and middle portions of the corpus callous

olfactory bulb and tract

medial parts if the frontal and parietal lobes

Question 9

branches of the middle cerebral artery supply lateral portions of what lobes

Answer 9

frontal 
parietal 
temporal
occipital 
insular

Question 10

the middle cerebral artery travels through what

Answer 10

lateral sulcus

largest branch of ICA and most often occluded

Question 11

describe the connections of the posterior communicating arteries

Answer 11

leaves ICA to join with the posterior cerebral artery

connects anterior and posterior circulations

anastomose with posterior cerebral arteries thus forming a connection between the anterior and posterior circualtions

Question 12

posterior inferior cerebellar arteries (PICA) arise from what

Answer 12

both vertebral arteries

largest branch of vertebral arteries

Question 13

the PICA supplies what

Answer 13

posterior cerebellum
inferior cerebellum
medulla

Question 14

the 2 posterior spinal arteries arise from what

Answer 14

posterior inferior cerebellar arteries

Question 15

posterior inferior cerebellar arteries supply what part of the cerebellum

Answer 15

posterior inferior portions

Question 16

the anterior spinal artery arises from what? How/where does it run?

Answer 16

vertebral arteries

runs along median fissure of spinal cord

continues inferiorly and supplies anterior 2/3 of spinal cord

goes to medial medulla

Question 17

at the midbrain the basilar artery bifurcates into what

Answer 17

posterior cerebral arteries (terminal branches)

Question 18

the basilar artery supplies what

Answer 18

penetrating branches to the pons (pontine arteries)

Question 19

the basilar artery gives off what other 2 arteries

Answer 19

anterior inferior cerebellar arteries and superior cerebellar arteries

Question 20

what supplies the anterior inferior cerebellum

Answer 20

anterior inferior cerebellar arteries

Question 21

what supplies the superior cerebellum

Answer 21

superior cerebellar arteries

Question 22

posterior cerebral arteries are the terminal branches of what artery

Answer 22

basilar artery

Question 23

CN III lies between what 2 structures

Answer 23

between posterior cerebral and superior cerebellar arteries

Berry aneurysms on either artery can impinge CN III and cause eye deficits

Question 24

branches of the posterior cerebral arteries supply what

Answer 24

midbrain
occipital lobe (visual cortex)
temporal lobe
posterior corpus callosum

Question 25

what anastomoses with the posterior communicating arteries to form a connection between the anterior and posterior circulations

Answer 25

the posterior cerebral arteries

Question 26

what is the cerebral arterial circle

Answer 26

Sir Thomas Willis described in 1664

provides circulation if part of it is occluded

Question 27

what creates the circle of willis

Answer 27

anterior communicating artery 
R/L anterior cerebral artery 
R/L internal carotid artery 
R/L posterior communicating artery 
R/L posterior cerebral artery 
Basilar artery