aivovaltimo

Aivovaltimo is the Finnish term for a cerebral artery, a blood vessel that supplies the brain with oxygenated blood. The brain’s arterial system primarily originates from the internal carotid arteries and the vertebral arteries, which ascend from the neck and converge at the base of the brain to form the basilar artery. These vessels, together with the Circle of Willis, provide collateral routes that help maintain cerebral perfusion if one pathway is compromised.

The major cerebral arteries are often described in three groups: the anterior cerebral artery (ACA), the middle cerebral artery (MCA), and the posterior cerebral artery (PCA). The ACA supplies the medial portions of the frontal and parietal lobes, the MCA supplies the lateral aspects of most cerebral hemispheres including many language and sensorimotor areas, and the PCA supplies the occipital lobes and portions of the temporal lobes. In addition, numerous smaller arteries, such as lenticulostriate arteries, penetrate deeply to nourish subcortical structures like the basal ganglia and internal capsule.

Functionally, cerebral arteries regulate the delivery of blood to neural tissue and participate in cerebral autoregulation, maintaining stable blood flow across a range of systemic pressures. Disruptions of cerebral arteries, such as occlusions or ruptures, can lead to ischemic stroke or hemorrhagic events, including subarachnoid hemorrhage from aneurysms, particularly at branches within the Circle of Willis. Diagnosis relies on imaging modalities like CT and MRI, and treatment focuses on restoring perfusion or securing ruptures, depending on the clinical context. See also: Circle of Willis, stroke, aneurysm.