Позвоночные артерии отходят от подключичных large vessels. These channels feed the brain. In particular, the occipital lobes, cerebellum, and trunk are supplied with blood. Next, we analyze in more detail what the vertebral arteries are. The article will describe vascular dysfunction, clinical presentation and therapeutic methods used to eliminate them.
The segments of the vertebral artery pass through the channelformed by the transverse processes of the cervical bone elements. For their location, the vessels and received the name. Penetrating into the cranial cavity through the occipital foramen, the vertebral arteries merge at the brain stem into the basilar canal. From this section they pass upwards. Under the cerebral hemispheres, a branching occurs. On the one hand, the right, and on the other, the left vertebral artery.
Each channel is divided into specific parts. The following segments of the vertebral artery are distinguished:
The brain feeds two pools:vertebrobasilar and carotid. The latter includes the carotid arteries (internal). They provide from 70 to 85% of the total blood volume. Carotid arteries are responsible for almost all of the major circulatory disorders of the brain. First of all it concerns strokes. In this regard, in the process of the survey, their condition is given special attention. Their atherosclerotic lesions and the consequences of this are a subject of heightened interest among cardiologists, as well as neurologists and vascular surgeons. Both the right and left vertebral artery enter the vertebrobasilar basin. They provide about 15-30% of the total blood volume. A stroke such as a lesion can seriously harm a patient, even make him disabled.
Vertebral arteries and their branches feedcerebellum. With a shortage of blood supply, dizziness is likely to occur. This symptom of the vertebral artery is called "vertebrobasilar insufficiency". Through the considered vessels is the supply of the brain stem. In this structure are concentrated vital centers of respiration and blood circulation. In this regard, a stroke in this area is quite difficult and often fatal. Certain danger is cervical osteochondrosis. Vertebral artery syndrome develops due to deformation of bone elements. Vessels become tortuous, which leads to disruption of the blood supply.
Aggravating factorsmay be vertebral and non-vertebral nature. In the latter case, we are talking about injuries that have no connection with the spine. They are caused by congenital anomalies of the size and course of blood vessels or atherosclerosis. But the latter reason is rarely diagnosed. These anomalies do not have independent value. But in connection with the accession of other factors of compression of the arteries, a very unfavorable state is being formed.
Vertebrogenic lesions are caused by differentpathologies of the spine (osteochondrosis - mainly). These disorders can occur even in childhood or adolescence against the background of dysplastic or post-traumatic instability in the cervical spine. As a result, vertebral arteries can be deformed.
The most characteristic sign of pathology is consideredconstant, in some cases paroxysmally agonizing, excruciating throbbing pain in the head. As a rule, it is localized in the occipital area. During the attack, soreness can spread to other areas. Most often, it gives to the area of the eye socket and nose bridge, to the parietal-temporal area, to the forehead or ear. Soreness can be either paroxysmal or permanent. Sensations are usually localized on one side.
Often there is soreness of the scalp.This sensation appears even with a slight touch, combing. When turning or tilting the head, a characteristic crunch may occur, in some cases there is a burning sensation.
In some cases, patients with vertebral syndromearteries appear dizziness, accompanied by nausea or vomiting, hearing loss, ringing / tinnitus, various visual impairments. The latter should include such manifestations as the appearance of a shroud or fog in front of the eyes, double vision, opacification, and others. Rarely do patients complain of a feeling of the presence of a foreign body in the throat (pharyngeal migraine) and difficulty swallowing. Among vegetative disorders, there may be a short feeling of hunger, thirst, a feeling of heat or chills.
In this case, Bernard-Horner syndrome is noted.The condition is accompanied, as a rule, by unilateral pain and paresthesia. Symptoms usually capture the face, hard palate, teeth, tongue. A tingling, burning sensation, a feeling of the presence of an alien body appears in the throat. In addition to these symptoms, vestibular-type disorders are observed in the form of dizziness, staggering and failing. These disorders are accompanied by nausea and ringing or noise in the ear. In the course of headache attacks, chills appear, working capacity decreases, sweating increases, fatigue increases, visual acuity decreases, and “flashing flies before the eyes” appears. With any change in the position of the head, the intensity of pain increases significantly. But at the same time, the patient can find a position in which this sensation significantly decreases or disappears completely.
Hypoplasia belongs to this category of pathologies.The left vertebral artery is not affected so often. Signs of pathology are not immediately observed. Symptoms are closely associated with hemodynamic disorders. This means that before stagnation and inadequate blood flow become clinically significant, a certain amount of time must pass. It should be remembered that in the human body there are compensatory mechanisms that allow maintaining a normal diet during a given period.
Why does hypoplasia develop? The left vertebral artery may form incorrectly in the prenatal period for several reasons. The main ones include:
Against the background of hypoplasia, a significant narrowing of the lumen of the artery is noted at the site of its entry into the canal leading to the cranial cavity.
Identification of pathology involves the use ofseveral research methods. First of all, the specialist in his conclusions is based on the clinical picture. In this case, we are talking about information obtained during a neurological examination, as well as patient complaints. Diagnosis often reveals tension of the occipital muscles, difficulty turning the head, pain when pressing on the processes of 1 and 2 vertebrae in the cervical region. Radiography is also used during the examination. An obligatory measure is MRI. This procedure allows you to identify the exact cause of circulatory disorders, to detect the site of compression of the vessel. One of the main diagnostic methods is ultrasound dopplerography. During the diagnosis, the specialist must differentiate the syndrome with migraine.
If blood circulation is impaired (narrowed orthe vertebral artery is deformed), treatment is usually prescribed as a complex. Therapeutic measures depend on the age of the patient, the severity of the condition, as well as the individual characteristics of the patient. Due to the fact that such patients are at risk for stroke, therapeutic measures are primarily aimed at eliminating blood supply disorders and vasospasm. The complex uses vacuum treatment, pharmacopuncture. In addition, reflexology, a number of medications are prescribed. Among the drugs indicated for use are light antidepressants and anti-inflammatory drugs. Recommended medicines such as Aminophylline, Cinnarizine, Cavinton. In case of dizziness, Betagistin is prescribed.
In case of detection during the examinationcirculatory disorders of the brain or spinal cord recommended hospitalization of the patient in a hospital. In the absence of an urgent need for a hospital stay, a specialist may recommend the temporary wearing of a Shants collar. This corset is used to reduce the load on the cervical spine. Against the background of vertebral artery syndrome, manual therapy, physiotherapy and acupuncture, electrophoresis with analgesics, phonophoresis, and diadynamic currents are often prescribed.
