Anatomy of the Blood Vessels Supplying the Brain and Its Clinical Importance in Neurovisualization
摘要
The brain’s vasculature is important for the normal functioning of the central nervous system. The rich vascular supply of the brain is needed for oxygen and nutrients. The two main arteries supplying blood are the internal carotid artery and the vertebral artery, with its branches. Most of the forebrain is supplied by the internal carotid artery, while the parts of the temporal and occipital lobes derive its blood supply from the branches of the vertebrobasilar system of arteries. The anatomical knowledge of the arteries supplying the brain is important for diagnosis, investigation, surgical interventions, and treatment. The arteries contribute to the formation of the circle of Willis. The high oxygen and nutrient demand are met by the vertebrobasilar arteries and the internal carotid arteries in the posterior and anterior parts, respectively. The circle of Willis is important for the collateral supply of blood. Ischemia and stroke may benefit from collateral circulation, and incomplete circulation may prove to be dangerous. The arteries supplying the cerebrum may exhibit variations that may compromise the hemodynamics. Aneurysms, strokes, emboli, thrombus, clots, tumors, and degenerative changes occurring in the vessel wall are commonly seen in day-to-day clinical practice. Proper anatomical knowledge of the blood supply of the brain is helpful for angiography procedures, radiological interpretations, and surgeries to minimize errors in diagnosis and check for any inadvertent injuries. In this chapter, we discuss the anatomy and clinical importance of the arteries supplying the cerebrum of the brain.