Key result
Missing communicating arteries sharply reduces local cerebral flow during unilateral ICA stenosis in computational models.
Why the study?
Abnormal anatomical structures of the circle of Willis may decrease compensatory capacity during unilateral internal carotid artery stenosis, affecting cerebral blood supply.
Answers are grounded in this paper and cite their sources.
Circle of Willis (CoW) plays a significant role in maintaining the blood supply for the brain. Specifically, when the stenosis occurs in the internal carotid artery (ICA), abnormal structures of CoW would decrease the compensatory capacity, leading to the local insufficiency of cerebral blood supply. The present paper built a series of lumped parameter models for CoW, and simulated the blood redistribution caused by the unilateral ICA stenosis with different severities in cerebral arteries in the normal and abnormal CoW respectively. The results showed that when unilateral ICA stenosis occurred, the collateral circulation was built through the anterior communicating artery and the ipsilateral posterior communicating artery, maintaining the flow in cerebral arteries. The absence of the two communicating arteries would cause an obvious decrease of flow in local cerebral arteries in the anterior circulation. In conclusion, the two arteries play a significant role in maintaining the balance of cerebral blood supply in the development of ICA stenosis.
No takes yet. Share an insight, caveat, or question.
Zhang et al. (2014) studied unilateral internal carotid artery stenosis. Anatomical variations of the Circle of Willis vs. Normal Circle of Willis was evaluated on Blood redistribution and flow in cerebral arteries. Absence of anterior and ipsilateral posterior communicating arteries in computational models caused an obvious decrease of flow in local cerebral arteries during unilateral ICA stenosis.
Synapse has enriched 5 closely related papers on similar clinical questions. Consider them for comparative context: