Blood Supply and Spinal Cord Vocabulary

Vocabulary flashcards related to blood supply to the brain and the circle of Willis.

Blood supply to the brain

Located on the inferior side of the brain; vessels come from posterior and anterior directions.

Vertebral arteries

Arteries coming up the posterior side of the brain providing posterior circulation.

Internal carotid arteries

Arteries coming up the anterior side of the brain supplying about 80% of the cerebrum.

Vertebral arteries

Arteries that are bringing blood to the posterior side of the brain

Anterior cerebral, middle cerebral, posterior communicating

Major branches of the internal carotid artery.

Basilar artery

A major branch of the vertebral artery.

Circle of Willis

Important anastomosis providing collateral circulation in the brain.

Anterior communicating artery

Connects the two anterior cerebral arteries in the circle of Willis.

Posterior communicating artery

Connects the anterior and posterior circulation in the circle of Willis.

Anterior cerebral arteries

Arteries that feed the anterior cerebrum.

Vertebral arteries

Originate off of the subclavian arteries

Brachiocephalic artery

Splits into the right subclavian artery and the right common carotid artery.

Subclavian artery

The vessel that vertebral arteries branch from

Middle cerebral artery

Large continuation of the internal carotid artery.

Foramen magnum

The spinal cord exits the skull through this opening.

Spinal canal

The spinal cord descends through it after exiting the skull.

Foramen rotundum

A division of the trigeminal nerve passes through it

Foramen spinosum

The middle meningeal artery goes through here

Central nervous system and peripheral nervous system

Divisions of the nervous system

Central nervous system

Integrates information.

Peripheral nervous system

Connects the central nervous system and tells our bodies to do things

Sensory information

Information that is incoming

Motor activity

Information that is outgoing.

Afferent

Information arriving

Efferent

Nerve cells that are carrying information away from the central nervous system.

Spinal cord

Communicates between the brain and the peripheral nervous system and is a reflex center.

Conus medullaris

The end of the spinal cord.

Cauda equina

Collection of spinal nerve roots.

Filum terminale

Extension of the pia mater that anchors the conus medullaris to the coccyx.

Cervical enlargement

Where the brachial plexus is located

Meninges

Layers of connective tissue that protect the spinal cord

Cerebrospinal fluid

Allows the spinal cord to be floating within this space and is kept in place by the meninges.

Pia mater

Layer that is directly adhered to the spinal cord

Arachnoid mater

Layer containing web-like projections

Dura mater

Opaque layer on the outside.

Denticulate ligaments

Projections of pia mater that come out laterally and help anchor it.

Epidural space

Outside of the dura that contain fat and a venous plexus.

Subarachnoid space

Contains cerebrospinal fluid just like in the brain.

Epidural

Where you stick a needle to inject with anesthesia

Spinal tap

Used to draw CSF fluid

Gray matter

Contains cell bodies.

White matter

Contains myelinated axons that connects the gray matter.

ventral horn

bottom of the butterfly wing

dorsal root ganglion

Dorsal root enlargement

spinal nerve

Root that connects the dorsal and ventral sides

ventral ramus and a dorsal remus

Branches of the spinal nerve