Exam 1: Brain Arteries

Dr. Ghosh - Fall 2023

what longitudinal arteries run the length of the spinal cord?

anterior spinal and posterior spinal

anterior spinal artery

arises in a Y-shaped configuration from two vertebral arteries and descends along the ventral surface of the cord

what longitudinal arteries run the length of the spinal cord?

anterior spinal and posterior spinal

anterior spinal artery

arises in a Y-shaped configuration from two vertebral arteries and descends along the ventral surface of the cord

posterior spinal arteries

arise from the vertebral arteries OR the posterior inferior cerebellar arteries (PICA) and run along the dorsal surface of the cord

what happens below the cervical cord level?

spinal cord also receives blood through radicular arteries

six longitudinal veins in the spinal cord

anterior spinal, posterior spinal, anteriolateral spinal, posteriolateral spinal, anterior radicular, and posterior radicular

occlusion of the anterior spinal artery in thoracic segment

leads to acute thoracic cord syndrome with paraplegia, incontinence, and loss of pain and temperature sensation

what major arteries supply blood to the brain?

internal carotid artery and vertebral artery

where are the internal carotid arteries

anterior portion of the brain and are the posterior branches from the common carotid arteries

pathway of internal carotid arteries

enter the base of the skull through the carotid canal and then enter the cranial vault through through the foramen lacerum

what does the internal carotid artery split into?

first: hypophysial arteries

second: middle and anterior cerebral arteries

what do the hypophysial arteries branch into?

anterior and posterior hypophysial arteries

what does the anterior hypophysial artery give rise to? for what?

hypophysial portal veins to convey hormones from hypothalamus to pituitary gland

what does the posterior hypophysial artery supply?

neural lobe of pituitary gland

ophthalmic artery

passes through the optic foramen into the orbit and supplies the eyes, paranasal sinuses, and parts of the nose

posterior communicating artery

arises from the internal carotid artery close to the terminal bifurcation and runs backwards to join the posterior cerebral artery

occlusion of internal carotid artery

leads to ipsilateral blindness due to the damage of the ophthalmic artery and loss of vision from half of the visual field on the contralateral eye

middle cerebral artery

larger than anterior cerebral and supplies the lateral surface of frontal, parietal, and temporal lobes

what areas, specifically, does the middle cerebral artery supply?

primary motor cortex, premotor cortex, primary somatosensory, and brocha’s area

what does the left middle cerebral artery supply?

all the cortical areas concerned with language

occlusion of middle cerebral artery

leads to contralateral paralysis in lower part of face and in the arm, contralateral general somatosensory deficits, and global aphasia (if the dominant hemisphere is occluded)

anterior cerebral artery

smaller, terminal branch of the internal carotid artery and the two branches almost meet at the midline

what does the anterior communicating artery join together?

the two anterior cerebral artery branches

recurrent artery of heubner

supplies corpus striatum and basal ganglia and is a proximal (to the communicating) branch of the anterior cerebral artery

what artery is impaired if individuals have symptoms of Parkinson’s after a stroke?

anterior cerebral (recurrent of huebner)

what artery does the anterior cerebral continue into on the upper surface?

pericallosal and callosomarginal arteries

occlusion of anterior cerebral artery

causes paralysis, sensory deficits in the contralateral leg and perineum, and urinary incontinence

why is urinary incontinence an effect of occlusion in the anterior cerebral a.?

inadequate perineal sensation and defective control of the PF musculature

what are vertebral arteries a branch of?

subclavian arteries

how do vertebral arteries travel?

ascend through the transverse foramina of cervical vertebrae and enter the skull through the foramen magnum

basilar artery

the joining of the left and right vertebral arteries at the caudal border of the pons

branches of the vertebral artery

anterior spinal, posterior spinal, and posterior inferior spinal arteries

anterior spinal artery

formation: (1) formed by branches from each vertebral artery

supply: blood to all of the gray matter and anterior white matter

posterior spinal artery

formation: one on each side and rises on each side as a branch of the vertebral or posterior inferior cerebellar arteries

supply: lateral and posterior white column of spinal cord

posterior inferior cerebellar artery (PICA)

formation: largest branch of vertebral

supply: inferior aspect of cerebellum

branches of basilar artery

anterior inferior cerebellar artery (AICA), labyrinthine, pontine, superior cerebellar, and posterior cerebellar arteries

anterior inferior cerebellar artery (AICA)

supplies to the anterior and inferior surface of the cerebellum

labyrinthine artery

formation: branch of either the basilar or AICA and passes through the internal acoustic meatus

supply: membranous labyrinth of the internal ear

pontine arteries

formation: rise from the basilar artery along its length

supply: basal part of pons, including corticospinal fibers, pontine nuclei, and middle cerebellar peduncle

superior cerebellar artery

formation: arises close to terminal bifurcation of the basilar artery

supply: pons, superior cerebellar peduncle, and inferior colliculus

posterior cerebral artery

formation: (2) are the terminal branches of basilar

supply: occipital lobe and inferiomedial aspect of temporal lobe

occlusion of basilar artery

leads to coma, loss of control of respiration center, vestibular dysfunction (Vertigo), and deaf

circle of willis

pattern formed when the vertebral and internal carotid sources of blood join at the base of the brain

components of circle of willis

anterior communicating, anterior cerebral, short segment of internal carotids, posterior communicating, and posterior cerebral

function of circle of willis

provide an alternative route of blood supply if one of the arteries is occluded