Normal cerebrovascular physiology and vascular anatomy

The first part of this chapter describes normal neurovascular anatomy including its embryology, histology, and normal arterial variants. It includes angiographic arterial anatomy and also the structures and territories supplied by specific vessels. The anatomy of the venous sinuses and both the superficial and deep cerebral veins are described. The second part details normal cerebral neurophysiology, including autoregulation and the control of cerebral perfusion. It covers the myogenic, metabolic, and neurogenic mechanisms of cerebral blood flow and vessel diameter regulation. Finally, the role and influence of mannitol on cerebral blood flow is described, and how although it acutely reduces cerebral volume and intracranial pressure, its exact mechanism of action remains unclear.