Gross Anatomy and Clinical Problems of Blood Supply Flashcards
What supplies most of the blood supply to the spinal cord?
Radicular arteries
Branches of segmental arteries that enter via Intervertebral Foramina
What supplies most of the blood to the brain?
Internal Carotid Artery
80%
What is the Great Radicular Artery of Adamkewicz?
Particularly large radicular artery that arises from T9-T12 and provides major blood supply to lumbar and sacral spinal cord
What are the clinical characteristics of an obstruction of radicular artery of adamkewicz?
Can occur during clamping for heart surgery or by a dissection aortic aneurysm
Similar to anterior spinal artery syndrome
Paraplegia (CSTs), Loss of pain and temp. sensation (STT)
Why is metastasis to the vertebral column and spinal cord concerning?
The veins and venous plexuses of the spinal cord have no valves
Diseases can spread to the spinal cord and vertebrae from other regions of the body
What is the anatomical benefit of bifurcation of the carotid vs. repeated branching?
Bifurcation maintains high rate of flow in vessels
Repeated branching would not be as effective because flow decreases when the total cross-sectional diameter of vessels increases
What is carotid artery disease?
Accumulation of plaque at the carotid bifurcation is common
Carotid stenosis can compromise blood suppply to the brain
Can give rise to emboli
What is a carotid endarterectomy?
Surgical intervention to remove plaque from carotid artery
What is the carotid sinus?
Dilated region at the base of the internal carotid artery above the bifurcation
Visceral sensory endings of CN IX monitor blood pressure
Stimulation of the carotid sinus produces decreased blood pressure and bradycardia
What is the carotid body?
Small reddish-brown body, posterior to the bifurcation
Visceral chemoreceptive sensory endings of CN IX mainly monitor blood oxygen
Stimulation produces increased blood pressure and hyperventilation
What occurs with bilateral damage to the carotid sinus and carotid body?
Increased variability of blood pressure and heart rate
What results from glossopharyngeal nerve palsy?
Difficulty swallowing, absent gag reflex
Impaired cardiovascular reflexes, decreased secretions of the parotid gland
Loss of taste and impaired sensation over the posterior 1/3 of the tongue
