How to Describe Cerebral Perfusion

Cerebral profusion simply describes the blood flow in the brain. When the brain is deprived of its supply of nutrients and oxygen due to a restricted or blocked blood flow, it can result in damage to the brain. The blood flow to the brain may be affected by disease such as hardening of the arteries, by trauma such as a head injury sustained in a car accident or by a stroke. Several major arteries are involved in maintaining proper blood flow to the brain, which can be explained with the use of medical illustrations.

Things You'll Need

• Medical dictionary
• Large illustration of blood flow in the brain
• Large illustration of parts of the brain
• Large diagram of the Circle of the Willis
• Pointer stick

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Instructions

Explaining the Term Cerebral

• 1

  Look up the word "cerebral" in a dictionary, preferably a medical dictionary. Usually you will find that it means relating to the brain or cerebrum. When explaining cerebral perfusion, it is easiest to start by showing a diagram or illustration of the different parts of the brain, pointing out the cerebrum, the main portion of the brain occupying the upper part of the cranial cavity, in the diagram.

• 2

  Use a diagram that depicts the arteries in the brain and which identifies specific arteries to explain the term perfusion. Cerebral perfusion describes blood flow in the brain to supply it with nutrients and oxygen. Show a diagram that displays all the major arteries of the body. Using your finger or pointer, draw attention to the main artery, the aorta, on a clearly labeled illustration to show how the common carotid and the vertebral arteries carry blood to the brain.

• 3

  Using the same illustration that identifies major arteries in the body, point out the internal carotid artery and trace its path with your finger or pointer on the diagram to show how it flows up along one side of the neck and then passes behind the ear into the temporal lobe.

• 4

  Using your illustration of arteries in the body, draw attention to the anterior cerebral artery and the middle cerebral artery. Trace the blood flow on the illustration to demonstrate how the middle cerebral artery has tree-like branches that transport blood to each hemisphere of the brain.

• 5

  Using your diagram of the Circle of the Willis, trace the blood flow through this section of the brain, starting at the bottom of the illustration with the vertebral artery up to the basilar artery and then further up to the internal carotid artery to demonstrate blood flow at the trunk of the brain.