CSF Flow Anatomy Flashcards
What does the carotid canal receive?
the internal carotid artery from the neck
Where does the carotid canal lie?
in the pyramid-shaped PETROUS part of the temporal bone
edges of carotid canal are smooth and rounded
What is the difference between ‘lacerated’ and ‘incised’?
lacerated = torn (with blunt force)
incised = cut (with sharp object)
Why might damage to the wall of the internal carotid artery cause Horner’s syndrome?
damage to the internal carotid (sympathetic) plexus
Why might an internal carotid aneurysm cause lateral rectus palsy?
the abducens nerve (CN VI) travels forward in the cavernous sinus with the internal carotid artery (ICA)
(other nerves travel in the lateral wall)
Abducens is therefore more vulnerable to compression due to ICA aneurysm
this can cause denervation of the ipsilateral lateral rectus muscle
=> diplopia, worse on far LATERAL GAZE of affected eye
What proportion of blood flow does the middle cerebral artery receive?
receives 80% of the internal carotid blood flow
What do the branches of the middle cerebral artery supply?
UPPER DIVISION
supplies frontal and parietal lobes
LOWER DIVISION
passes downwards to supply the temporal lobe
Why might a middle cerebral artery stroke cause paralysis of the contralateral face and upper limb but spare the lower limb?
the leg (lower limb) area of the primary motor cortex gives rise to the corticospinal cord
this is located MEDIALLY (paracentral lobule)
supplied by the anterior cerebral artery (ACA)
Areas for ‘arm’ (upper limb) and ‘face’ (cranial nerve/bulbar fibres) are supplied by the middle cerebral artery (MCA)
Area originates in the cerebral convexity
What is the most likely cause of a stroke affecting the middle cerebral artery territory?
most strokes are ischaemic (85%) rather than haemorrhagic (15%)
Ischaemic strokes are most commonly caused by an EMBOLUS coming from the heart or atherosclerotic neck vessels
What is the mechanism of AF increasing stroke risk?
AF = atrial fibrillation
mural thrombus originates from the left atrial appendage (blood sits and can easily form clots)
common cause of stroke
especially since 10% over the age of 75 have AF
What is the mechanism for clot formation in coronary circulation?
myocardial infarcts are also occlusive in origin
but most commonly caused by IN SITU THROMBUS
e.g. due to unstable atherosclerotic plaque then vascular occlusion from the displaced thrombus and downstream MI
What is the smaller branch off of the internal carotid that passes superiorly and medially into the longitudinal fissure?
anterior cerebral artery
receives 20% of the blood from the internal carotid blood flow
Where is the ACA in relation to the optic chiasm?
ACA = anterior cerebral artery
ACA sits above the optic chiasm
What is the point where the 2 anterior cerebral arteries connect called?
the anterior communicating artery
part of the circle of Willis
What is the branch of the ACA that winds around the corpus callosum?
pericallosal branch of the ACA
[other branches fan out over the medial surface of the hemisphere]
What does the ACA supply?
medial surface of the brain as far back as the deep parieto-occipital sulcus
What supplies the brain posterior to the deep parieto-occipital sulcus?
posterior cerebral artery (PCA)
supplies the posterior region = medial surface of the occipital lobe
Why might an anterior cerebral artery (ACA) stroke cause paralysis of the contralateral lower limb but spare the upper limb and face?
ACA supplies medial part of the motor strip (paracentral lobule)
this contains the primary motor cortex (controls contralateral lower extremity)
upper limb and facial areas of motor cortex supplied by MCA
Would you expect an anterior cerebral artery (ACA) stroke to cause a contralateral visual field defect (hemianopia)?
No
ACA does not supply the visual cortex or the central visual pathways from the lateral geniculate nucleus to the calcarine sulcus
Why might a MCA stoke cause a visual field defect?
can interrupt the optic radiations as they sweep down through the temporal and up through the parietal lobes to reach the visual cortex
Would an embolus travelling up the internal carotid artery be more likely to enter the ACA or MCA?
~80% of the ICA blood flows laterally into the MCA (bigger diameter)
other 20% flow passes anteriorly and medially to enter the ACA
therefore more likely for embolus to enter the MCA
Where do the paired vertebral arteries arise from?
subclavian arteries in the neck
Where do the vertebral arteries pass in the cervical vertebrae?
pass through the upper 6 cervical transverse foramina
not C7
What is the course of the vertebral arteries?
ascend the cervical vertebra roughly parallel to the carotid vessels
enter skull via the foramen magnum
they then unite to form the basilar artery
Why might a violent flexion-extension neck injury to the neck lead to a brain stem stroke?
by tearing/damaging the vertebral artery lining as it passes through the foramina transversaria to ascend the neck
may trigger local vessel thrombosis -> occlusion -? could cut off posterior circulation supply
What is the medical term for a tear in an arterial wall?
arterial dissection
DISS-SECTION not DIE-SEKSHUN
In what age group is arterial dissection more common?
more likely to occur in a younger patient <50
in those who lack the usual risk factors for stroke
however, arterial dissections are generally unusual
When may vertebral arteries be absent?
if brain stem transection is high