Related Experiment Video

Updated: Sep 20, 2026

Protocol for Isolating the Mouse Circle of Willis
06:30

Protocol for Isolating the Mouse Circle of Willis

Published on: October 22, 2016

Incompetent circle of Willis and vertebrobasilar insufficiency

Louis W Welsh, John J Welsh, Bernard Lewin

    The Annals of Otology, Rhinology, and Laryngology
    |August 28, 2003
    PubMed

    Insights

    Vertebrobasilar insufficiency is linked to structural vascular defects, affecting brain blood flow. Incomplete Circle of Willis and blocked arteries significantly increase hindbrain perfusion deficits, causing dysfunction.

    Area of Science:

    • Neurology
    • Vascular Imaging
    • Neuroanatomy

    Background:

    • Vertebrobasilar insufficiency (VBI) presents with diverse neurological symptoms.
    • Understanding the vascular underpinnings of VBI is crucial for diagnosis and treatment.

    Purpose of the Study:

    • To analyze the vascular basis of VBI.
    • To compare vascular findings in symptomatic VBI patients with asymptomatic individuals.

    Main Methods:

    • Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and angiography were used.
    • 135 subjects with VBI were examined and compared to a control group.

    Main Results:

    • Symptomatic VBI patients showed significant differences in intracerebral collateralization and regional perfusion.
    • Structural defects like stenosis or absence of posterior communicating arteries were noted.
    • Occlusion of internal carotid or vertebral arteries combined with an incomplete Circle of Willis heightened hindbrain perfusion deficits.

    Conclusions:

    • Structural vascular abnormalities are key factors in VBI.
    • Impaired collateral circulation and perfusion deficits contribute to hindbrain dysfunction symptoms.

    More Related Videos

    Portable Thermographic Screening for Detection of Acute Wallenberg's Syndrome05:12

    Portable Thermographic Screening for Detection of Acute Wallenberg's Syndrome

    Published on: September 19, 2019

    Using Unidirectional Rotations to Improve Vestibular System Asymmetry in Patients with Vestibular Dysfunction05:02

    Using Unidirectional Rotations to Improve Vestibular System Asymmetry in Patients with Vestibular Dysfunction

    Published on: August 30, 2019

    Related Concept Videos

    The Arch of Aorta01:10

    The Arch of Aorta

    The coronary arteries, originating from the ascending aorta, bifurcate from two sinuses located within the ascending aorta. Positioned just above the aortic semilunar valve, these sinuses house essential aortic baroreceptors and chemoreceptors, crucial for maintaining cardiac function. The left coronary artery and the right coronary artery branch off from the left posterior and anterior aortic sinuses, respectively.
    Encircling the heart, the coronary arteries form a ring-like structure before...
    Arteries of the Head and Neck01:26

    Arteries of the Head and Neck

    The human body's intricate network of arteries ensures that every organ system receives the necessary oxygen and nutrients for optimal function. The arterial network in the head and neck region is particularly complex, providing vital blood flow to the brain, eyes, and other critical structures. Prominent arteries in this region include the internal carotid arteries and the vertebral arteries.
    The internal carotid arteries supply blood to the anterior portion of the cerebrum. They enter the...
    Secondary Spinal Cord Injury llI: Pathophysiology01:25

    Secondary Spinal Cord Injury llI: Pathophysiology

    Early Ischemia and Ionic ImbalanceWithin minutes of spinal cord injury, a secondary cascade begins, progressing over hours to weeks. Vascular damage reduces blood flow, causing ischemia and mitochondrial dysfunction. ATP depletion leads to ion pump failure, membrane depolarization, sodium influx, potassium efflux, and water accumulation, resulting in cellular swelling. Increased intracellular calcium further disrupts mitochondria and accelerates cellular injury.Excitotoxicity and Neuronal...
    Major Somatic Sensory Pathways01:28

    Major Somatic Sensory Pathways

    Sensory impulses related to touch, pressure, vibration, and proprioception from various body parts, such as the limbs, trunk, neck, and posterior head, travel to the cerebral cortex through the posterior column-medial lemniscus pathway. The pathway’s name derives from the two white-matter tracts that convey the impulses: the spinal cord's posterior column and the brainstem's medial lemniscus. First-order sensory neurons extend their axons into the spinal cord, forming the posterior columns...
    Herniated Intervertebral Disc l: Introduction01:29

    Herniated Intervertebral Disc l: Introduction

    Intervertebral disc herniation refers to the displacement of the nucleus pulposus (the gel-like inner core of the disc) through a tear or weakened area in the annulus fibrosus (the outer fibrous ring). The displaced disc material extends beyond the normal boundaries of the disc space and may compress or irritate nearby spinal nerve roots or, less commonly, the spinal cord.Etiology and Risk FactorsHerniation commonly results from degeneration, in which aging reduces disc hydration and...
    Equilibrium and Balance01:15

    Equilibrium and Balance

    The inner ear assumes dual functionalities of auditory perception and equilibrium maintenance. The vestibule is the organ responsible for balance. This organ contains mechanoreceptors, specifically hair cells, endowed with stereocilia, which aid in deciphering information regarding the position and motion of our heads. Two intrinsic components, the utricle and saccule, help perceive head position, while the semicircular canals track head movement. Neurological messages initiated in the...