The net pressure gradient driving blood flow through the cerebral circulation which results in cerebral blood flow It depends upon the mean arterial pressure (MAP), the intracranial pressure (ICP) and the central venous pressure (CVP) – many exclude CVP from the...
Resting oxygen consumption of the brain is ~50 ml/minute Consumes ~20% of total body oxygen requirements at rest Global CBF is ~50ml / 100g brain tissue / minute White matter: 20ml/100g/min Grey matter: 70ml/100g/min Receives ~15% of cardiac output at...
The relationship between ICP and intracranial volume can be demonstrated using the intracranial compliance curve Compliance reflects the ability to compensate for changes in volume without subsequent rises in ICP – with reducing compliance comes large rises in...
The skull of an adult is in effect a rigid box which contains brain tissue, blood and CSF. An increase in the volume of one component invariably results in an increase in ICP unless the volume of another component...
Normal ICP in adults is 5-15mmHg It is constantly varying: Throughout the cardiac cycle Throughout the respiratory cycl With exercise, coughing and straining (can reach 50mmHg in the normal brain) Normal ICP is lower in children and can reach sub-atmospheric levels in...
