Daily Mirror

KNOW YOUR BODY

Vertebral arteries

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The vertebral arteries are among the major arteries of the neck, and supply blood to the back of the brain – the brain stem – which is very important because it helps control basic functions, such as breathing, heart rate, blood pressure and sleeping.

The vertebral arteries are the branches of the main arteries that supply the shoulder and run up the sides of the back of the neck.

Inside the skull, they merge to form the basilar artery, which supplies blood to the back of the brain.

Furring up of the vertebral arteries can lead to a stroke.

In old people, when the head is tilted back, the basilar artery can get “nipped”, classicall­y causing “fall attacks” because blood to the brain is momentaril­y interrupte­d.

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