Blood Supply of the Brain

Published on 16/03/2015 by admin

Filed under Basic Science

Last modified 16/03/2015

Print this page

rate 1 star rate 2 star rate 3 star rate 4 star rate 5 star
Your rating: none, Average: 0 (0 votes)

This article have been viewed 5050 times

6 Blood Supply of the Brain

The central nervous system is tremendously active metabolically—relative to its weight, it uses much more than its share of the available oxygen and glucose. Corresponding to this metabolic activity, it has an abundant and closely regulated arterial supply and a large venous drainage system. Also, the CNS depends for its proper functioning on carefully controlled extracellular ion concentrations. Part of the basis for this control is a system of diffusion barriers, of which cerebral blood vessels are a major part.

The Internal Carotid Arteries and Vertebral Arteries Supply the Brain

Two interconnected arterial systems provide the blood supply to the brain (Fig. 6-1). The internal carotid system of each side supplies the ipsilateral cerebral hemisphere, except for the medial surface of the occipital lobe and the medial and inferior surfaces of the temporal lobe. The vertebral-basilar system supplies those parts of the occipital and temporal lobes, as well as the brainstem and cerebellum. The supply of the diencephalon is shared by the two systems, with the vertebral/basilar system supplying most of the thalamus and the internal carotid system supplying most of the hypothalamus.