Document Type
Thesis
Abstract
The carotid artery, responsible for blood flow to the brain, and the middle cerebral artery (MCA), which supplies the cerebrum, are both susceptible to atherosclerosis, a condition that impairs blood flow and can lead to cognitive decline and ischemic strokes. This study investigates whether blood flow and vasodilation responses in the MCA during a hypercapnic challenge are comparable to those in the common carotid artery, which supplies the entire brain. This project aims to address limitations in current assessment methods, such as transcranial and duplex Doppler ultrasonography, to ascertain whether these two arteries exhibit consistent vasodilation patterns under hypercapnic conditions. The findings suggest that carotid artery measurements alone are insufficient to infer detailed changes in MCA functions. Additional parameters or a different measurement approach is needed to gain a better understanding of cerebral perfusion in future studies.
Disciplines
Cardiovascular System | Systems and Integrative Physiology
Publication Date
12-1-2024
Faculty Mentor of Honors Project
Dr. Matthew Brothers
License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-No Derivative Works 4.0 International License.
Recommended Citation
Lou, Emma, "Insights Into Cerebrovascular Health: Comparative Study of the Common Carotid and Middle Cerebral Artery" (2024). 2024 Fall Honors Capstone Projects. 2.
https://mavmatrix.uta.edu/honors_fall2024/2