Vascular supply (Circle of Willis) — Flashcards

Flashcard 31: In the Circle of Willis, which vessel connects the two anterior cerebral arteries?

Answer: Anterior communicating artery (ACom)

Extra: The anterior communicating artery is the most common site for berry (saccular) aneurysms. Rupture leads to subarachnoid hemorrhage, while large aneurysms can compress the optic chiasm, leading to bitemporal hemianopsia.

Flashcard 32: Which cerebral artery supplies most of the lateral surface of the cerebral hemisphere? _____

Answer: Middle cerebral artery

Flashcard 33: What artery supplies the lateral pons? _____

Answer: Anterior inferior cerebellar artery (AICA)

Flashcard 34: The medial aspect of the pre-/post-central gyrus is supplied by the _____ artery

Answer: anterior cerebral

Flashcard 35: Which branch of the basilar artery arises just inferior to the posterior cerebral artery and supplies the superior surface of the cerebellum?

Answer: Superior cerebellar artery (SCA)

Flashcard 36: Which cerebral artery supplies the anterior four-fifths of the corpus callosum?_____

Answer: Anterior cerebral artery

Flashcard 37: Saccular aneurysms of the _____ communicating artery may cause compression of the CN III

Answer: posterior

Flashcard 38: Which cerebral artery supplies the superior ~1 inch of the frontal/parietal cortex?_____

Answer: Anterior cerebral artery

Flashcard 39: Saccular aneurysms of the _____ communicating artery may cause compression of the optic chiasm

Answer: anterior

Flashcard 40: Lung metastases have a high predilection for the brain due to the _____ of the cerebral vasculature

Answer: high blood flow (perfusion)

Extra: The brain receives approximately 15% of the total cardiac output. Because lung cancer cells enter the pulmonary veins and are then pumped by the left heart directly into the systemic arterial circulation, the brain is a frequent site for hematogenous metastasis.