What happens if the vertebral artery is damaged?
In most cases, vertebral artery injury is due to an intimal tear. The torn, exposed endothelium promotes platelet aggregation and thrombus formation. This thrombus may cause local occlusion of the vessel, but more commonly, the clot will embolize to the cerebral circulation resulting in a stroke.
What conditions result in blocked arteries in the brain?
Ischemic stroke occurs when a blood clot blocks or plugs an artery leading to the brain. A blood clot often forms in arteries damaged by the buildup of plaques (atherosclerosis).
How is a blocked artery in the brain treated?
If the narrowing of the artery is severe, and doesn’t respond to medications or is greater than a 50% blockage, more invasive treatment may be needed. The main options for treating narrowing of the arteries in the brain are: Angioplasty to reopen the artery with possible stenting. Cerebral artery bypass surgery.
How do you treat hardening of the arteries in the brain?
Treatment for cerebral arteriosclerosis can include medications or surgery. Physicians also may recommend treatments to help people control high blood pressure, quit cigarette smoking, and reduce cholesterol levels, all of which are risk factors for cerebral arteriosclerosis.
How many internal carotid arteries does the brain have?
Internal Carotid Artery. The internal carotid artery is a major branch of the common carotid artery, supplying several parts of the head with blood, the most important one being the brain. There are two internal carotid arteries in total, one on each side of the neck.
Where do the basilar and internal carotid arteries meet?
The blood travelling from the back of the head through the basilar artery and the blood traveling from the front of the head through the internal carotid arteries meet at the circle of Willis. The Circle of Willis is a circular group of arteries that provides a connection for blood flowing from the back to the front of the body.
What happens if there is a blockage in the carotid artery?
For example, if there is a blockage in the left internal carotid artery and blood is not able to reach the front of the left side of the brain, blood can move from the right internal carotid artery through the anterior communicating artery to the left side of the brain.
What is the anatomy of the vertebral arteries?
Anatomy. Working from the shoulders up, vertebral arteries begin in the subclavian arteries, which are the major sources of blood for each arm, working up each side of the neck vertebrae. Each artery, usually 3 to 5 millimeters in diameter, runs next to the internal carotid artery and behind the roots of the hypoglossal nerve through