Cerebral Hemodynamics

Brain physiology and hemodynamics can be complicated but understanding the intricacies is important in order to manage various disease states. There are many processes and components that work in conjunction in order to maintain normal function. The brain itself is not able to make or store glucose or oxygen, so it is reliant on physiologic support from the rest of the body. Despite containing a small portion of the overall body mass, it requires a significant amount of cardiac output and accounts for a large amount of oxygen demand. This chapter is broken into sections discussing overall physiology, specific relationships of various components, and, finally with understanding of these relationships, pharmacologic interventions. The development of new treatment strategies is an increasingly growing field and understanding the hemodynamics provides new pharmacologic and physiologic targets.