Work

Structural and Functional Characteristics of Cerebral Arteries as an Explanation for Clinical Syndromes Limited to the Brain

Year: 2022

Type: article

Abstract: Vascular disease affects many different arterial beds throughout the body. Yet the brain is susceptible to several vascular disorders that either are not found in other parts of the body or when found are much less likely to cause clinical syndromes in other organs. This specific vulnerability of the brain may be explained by structural and functional differences between the vessels of the brain and those of vessels in other parts of the body. In this review, we focus on how cerebrovascular anatomy and physiology may make the brain and its vessels more susceptible to unique vascular pathologies. To highlight these differences, we use our knowledge of five diseases and syndromes that most commonly manifest in the intracranial vasculature. For each, we identify characteristics of the intracranial arteries that make them susceptible to these diseases, while noting areas of uncertainty requiring further research.

Source: Cerebrovascular Diseases

DOI: 10.1159/000524724

Authors: Setareh Salehi Omran, Jose Gutierrez, Jay P. Mohr, Mitchell S.V. Elkind

Institutions: University of Colorado Anschutz, Columbia University, Columbia University Irving Medical Center

Language: English

Topic: Cerebrovascular and Carotid Artery Diseases

Subfield: Pulmonary and Respiratory Medicine

Field: Medicine

Domain: Health Sciences

SDG: Good health and well-being

Open Access status: green

Funder: National Institute on Aging