<unk> s begin initially with a small tear in the innermost layer of the arterial wall, the tunica intima, or rupture of the vasa vasorum with bleeding within the media. As the arterial wall begins to tear, blood begins to enter this newly formed false lumen and the resulting hematoma formation can either narrow (stenosis) or occlude the artery, decreasing or completely blocking blood flow through the artery. A complete occlusion of the artery can result in cerebral ischemia as the brain is depleted of oxygen-rich blood. Because the brain has a pair of carotid and vertebral arteries on each side of the neck, a unilateral occlusion can be asymptomatic, as the bilateral circulation continues perfusing the brain. Thrombus formation is the natural physiologic response to the vascular injury to prevent significant blood loss. However, parts of the thrombus can break apart and result in emboli that can lodge themselves in distal cerebral arteries causing ischemic stroke, otherwise known as a cerebral infarction.
Cervical artery dissection
Vertebral artery dissection
Rectus sheath hematoma
Jugular foramen syndrome
ROSAH syndrome
Carotid artery dissection
Spinal epidural hematoma
Middle cerebral artery syndrome