Cerebral Blood Flow: Quantifying Consciousness Although the heart may be
the source of energy needed to generate blood flow, and other organs
absolutely essential for normal living, the brain is the reason we are
alive. The collected book chapters are aimed at addressing this most
fundamental organ and its blood flow. These papers reflect detailed
descriptions of similar topics presented over a two-day period as part
of the 5th International Symposium on Applied Physiology of the
Peripheral Circulation held in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, in June 2000.
The symposium and this volume were organized into four distinct
groupings that follow in a logical fashion. The initial papers focus on
the basic unique physiology and pathophysiology of the cerebral
circulation, including a historical reviewof the means to measure
cerebral blood flow and its implications of the past 30 years. Dr.
Walter D. Obrist was one of the original investigators to use
radiolabeled markers to assess cerebral blood flow. His equations and
initial studies form an impressive introduction to where we are now. As
with much of the body's special organs, the brain too has many
circulatory features unique to itself.These include the unique
blood-brain barrier function ofthe endothelium, local neural regulation
control, and intracranial pressure effects. These special issues, plus
genetic factors that may predispose individuals to developing cere- bral
aneurysm, make up the initial section of the monograph.