Vasculature Of Brain

Question 1

Which artery winds over the medial surface of the brain and supplies the superior midline portions of the frontal lobe and parietal lobes?

Answer 1

Anterior cerebral artery

Question 2

The brain is supplied by which major arteries from the neck?

Answer 2

Internal carotid supplies about 80%. The rest is supplied by the vertebral arteries.

Question 3

The internal carotid branches into which two arteries?

Answer 3

Middle cerebral and anterior cerebral arteries.

Question 4

The two anterior cerebral arteries are joined by what?

Answer 4

Anterior communicating artery.

Question 5

The middle cerebral arteries and posterior cerebral arteries are joined by what?

Answer 5

Posterior communicating arteries.

Question 6

What does the basilar artery supply?

Answer 6

Pons, medulla and cerebellum.

Question 7

What does the posterior cerebral artery supply?

Answer 7

Occipital lobe of brain.

Question 8

What does the middle cerebral artery supply?

Answer 8

supplies lateral surface of brain (including the main motor, sensory and speech areas)
also supplies the inferior surface of brain, including the internal capsule

Question 9

What does the anterior cerebral artery supply?

Answer 9

superior midline portions of the frontal lobe and parietal lobe

Question 10

What is it called when cerebral arteries bleed?

Answer 10

Subarachnoid haemorrhage

Question 11

What is an extradural/epidural haemorrhage?

Answer 11

rupture of vessels outside dura eg middle meningeal artery at the pterion

Question 12

Where does the middle meningeal artery arise from?

Answer 12

Middle meningeal artery is a branch of the maxillary artery which is a terminal branch of the external carotid artery

Question 13

What happens when cerebral veins rupture?

Answer 13

Subdural haemorrhage

Question 14

What structure attaches itself to the crista galli? What is contained within this structure?

Answer 14

Falx cerebri

Superior sagittal sinus and inferior sagittal sinus is within this

Question 15

Which structures pass through the cavernous sinus?

Answer 15

CN III, IV, V1, and V2 pass through it (in that order from superior to inferior) and are attached to the lateral wall
CN VI is “free-floating” and not attached to the wall
Cavernous portion of ICA (internal carotid artery)

Question 16

What are the clinical signs of a stroke cause by a lesion in the anterior circle?

Answer 16

General motor and sensory dysfunction, aphasia

Question 17

What are the clinical signs of a stroke caused by the posterior circle?

Answer 17

vertigo, ataxia, visual deficits, coma

Question 18

What are the sinuses made of?

Answer 18

Endothelial lining and dura mater (very dense connective tissue)

Question 19

What is the name of the large fold of dura attached to the crista galli? Which sinus is present inside this structure?

Answer 19

falx cerebri

superior sagittal sinus and inferior sagittal sinus

Question 20

What is the name of the large fold of dura attached to the crista galli? Which sinus is present inside this structure?

Answer 20

falx cerebri

superior sagittal sinus and inferior sagittal sinus

Question 21

The falx cerebri meets a horizontal fold of dura. What is this called? Which sinus is enclosed within this? Which vein is located at this point?

Answer 21

tentorium cerebelli
left and right transverse sinuses
left and right superior petrosal sinuses
great cerebral vein

Question 22

White areas can be seen towards the midline superifically. What are these, and what are their function?

Answer 22

arachnoid villi
as people age, these can cluster to form arachnoid granulations
absorb CSF