The cerebral basal arterial network: morphometry of inflow and outflow components

Abstract

The aim of this project was to study how the morphology of the incoming and outgoing arterial components of the cerebral basal arterial network influence the blood flow to the brain. The cerebral basal arterial network consists of the circulus arteriosus cerebri anteriorly and the basilar artery posteriorly. Diameters of inflow vessels (bilateral vertebral and internal carotid arteries), connecting vessels (anterior communicating, basilar and bilateral posterior communicating arteries) and outflow vessels (anterior, middle and posterior cerebral arteries) were measured and cross-sectional areas calculated in 51 cadaveric brain specimens. The individual and the average cross-sectional areas of inflow arteries (51.43 mm2) were significantly bigger than the major outflow arteries (37.76 mm2) but smaller than the combined cross-sectional areas of outflow (37.76 mm2) and connecting (25.33 mm2) arteries. The difference in the size of arterial cross-sectional area and the presence of the connecting arteries in the cerebral basal arterial network provides a mechanism for lowering peaks in pressure, and demonstrates a function of the cerebral basal arterial network.