The Relative Vascularity of Different Areas of the Mammalian Brain

Abstract

Though many of the earlier workers made statements based on general impressions from injected preparations about the relative vascularity of different parts of the brain, only comparatively recently has an attempt been made to measure and express numerically the capillary development in different areas, by methods similar to those used by Krogh in studying the vascularity of muscle. Craigie has made an extensive study of the rat brain by such methods, Cobb, and Cobb and Talbot have investigated certain areas of the rabbit brain, and Dunning and Wolf certain parts of the nervous system of the cat. In the present paper a personal investigation (undertaken at the suggestion of Dr. Cobb) is reported, comparing the basal ganglia, cerebral and cerebellar cortex of the cat as regards capillary vascularity. The capillaries were demonstrated by Indian ink injection, and results expressed in millimetres of capillary per cubic millimetre of tissue. Substantiating observations were made on similar areas of monkey and human brains, but without attempting accurate measurement as in the cat material.