Vascular supply of the brain

Question 1

What are the branches of the aortic arch (right to left)

Answer 1

Brachiocephalic - into right common carotid and right subclavian artery
Left common carotid
Left subclavian

Question 2

At what level more or less do the common carotid arteries bifurcate into internal and external carotid?

Answer 2

C3-C4 (can vary)

Question 3

What does the internal carotid and external carotid supply?

Answer 3

Internal - blood supply to brain

External - blood supply to facial tissue and dura of brain

Question 4

Describe the course of the internal carotid artery

Answer 4

Cervical - no branches, anterior and medial to IJV, posterior to ECA.

Petrous - penetrates petrous bone and runs in the carotid canal - small branches to middle and inner ear

Cavernous - turns at the foramen lacerum and enters cavernous sinus and pierces dura - small branches supply the dura, cranial nerves 3-6 and posterior pituitary

Supraclinoid (intradural) - in the brain, superior hypophyseal artery supplies pituitary, stalk, hypothalamus and optic chiasm, posterior communicating connects with PCA
Anterior choroidal arteries supply the choroid plexus, optic tract, cerebral peduncle, internal capsule and medial temporal lobe.

Question 5

What artery is a common source of stroke and infarct

Answer 5

Middle cerebral artery

Question 6

What structures do the extracranial vertebral arteries supply?

Answer 6

Neck muscles, spinal meninges, cervical spinal cord

Question 7

Vertebral arteries join to form what artery?

Answer 7

Basilar

Question 8

Where do the posterior cerebral arteries arise from? What area does it supply?

Answer 8

Terminal bifurcation of the basilar artery

Supplies midbrain, thalamus, genuculate bodies, cerebral peduncles and tectum.