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ANATOMY OF THE FETAL
INTRACRANIAL BLOOD VESSELS |
The intracranial circulation becomes visible as early as the eighth week of pregnancy. Kurjak and co-workers: Visualization rate of pulsations on the base of the skull increased from 50% at week 8 GA to 83% at week 10. Constantly seen from week 11 onward (transvaginally).
ARTERIAL SUPPLY |
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1 – Anterior communicating artery 2 – Anterior cerebral artery (ACA) 3 – Internal carotid artery 4 – Middle cerebral artery (MCA) 5 – Posterior communicating artery 6 – Posterior cerebral artery (PCA) 7 – Vertebral artery 8 – Anterior spinal artery 9 – Anterior inferior cerebellar artery 10 – Basilar artery 11 – Superior cerebellar artery 12 – Anterior cerebral artery (A1 – horizontal
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Video image of the circle of Willis.
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- Anterior
Cerebral Arteries (ACA)
- Internal
Carotid Arteries (ICA)
- Posterior Communicating
Arteries
- Middle
Cerebral Arteries (MCA)
- Posterior Cerebral Arteries (PCA)
- Anterior Circulation
- from ACA
- Posterior Circulation
- from Vertebral arteries which join at pontomedullary junction to form a single Basilar artery
Circulations connect on the inferior surface of the brain as well as the cortical surface.
VENOUS DRAINAGE |
Venous Drainage - 2 routes:
- Direct drainage into systemic circulation (lower medulla and vertebral column)
- Dural sinuses e.g. superior and inferior sagittal sinuses, transverse sinus, superior petrosal and cavernous sinus. Dural sinuses are also responsible for resorbing cerebrospinal fluid.
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