Cerebral Veins Anatomy

Arterial Supply of the Brain and Spinal Cord

• The brain is supplied by two systems: the vertebrobasilar system (two vertebral arteries and the basilar artery) and the internal carotid system (two internal carotid arteries)

Vertebrobasilar System

• Composed of two vertebral arteries and the basilar artery
• Vertebral artery:
  • Origin: first part of the subclavian artery
  • Course: 4 parts
  • Branches: anterior spinal artery, posterior spinal artery, medullary branches, posterior inferior cerebellar artery (PICA), posterior meningeal artery
  • Termination: unite to form basilar artery at the lower border of the pons
• Basilar artery:
  • Origin: union of the two vertebral arteries at the lower border of the pons
  • Course: ascends in the basilar groove of the pons
  • Branches: pontine branches (3 groups), anterior inferior cerebellar artery (AICA), labyrinthine, superior cerebellar artery, two terminal branches (posterior cerebral arteries)
  • Termination: divides into 2 posterior cerebral arteries at the upper border of the pons

Internal Carotid System

• Composed of two internal carotid arteries
• Internal carotid artery:
  • Origin: one of the two terminal branches of the common carotid artery at the upper border of the thyroid cartilage
  • Course: divided into 4 parts: cervical part, petrous part, cavernous part, and supracavernous part
  • Branches: caroticotympanic, hypophyseal branches, ophthalmic artery, posterior communicating artery, anterior choroidal artery, two terminal branches (anterior cerebral artery and middle cerebral artery)
  • Termination: divides into anterior and middle cerebral arteries lateral to the optic chiasma

Branches of the Internal Carotid Artery

• Cortical branches
• Central branches
• Callosal branches to the entire corpus callosum

Posterior Cerebral Artery

• Origin: bifurcation of the basilar artery at the upper border of the pons
• Course: passes backward around the lateral side of the midbrain to reach the splenium
• Branches: cortical branches, central branches, splenial artery (supplies the splenium)

Venous Drainage of the Brain

• Superficial cerebral veins:
  • Middle cerebral vein
  • Inferior cerebral vein
• Deep cerebral veins:
  • Two internal cerebral veins
  • Great cerebral vein
  • Two basal veins
  • Anterior cerebral vein
  • Middle cerebral vein
  • Basal vein
  • Great cerebral vein
  • Straight sinus

Arterial Supply of the Spinal Cord

• Derived from:
  • Single midline anterior spinal artery (supplies anterior 2/3 of spinal cord)
  • Two posterior spinal arteries (supply posterior 1/3 of spinal cord)
  • Radicular arteries (paired anterior and posterior radicular arteries)
• Radicular arteries originate from spinal branches of vertebral, deep cervical, posterior intercostal, and lumbar arteries

Test your knowledge of cerebral veins, including superficial, middle, and deep veins, and their relations to other brain structures. This quiz covers the anatomy of internal cerebral veins, basal veins, and sagittal sinuses. Brush up on your neuroscience skills!