Abstract
The folds of the brain offer a particular challenge for the subarachnoid vascular grid. The primitive blood vessels that occupy this space, when the brain is flat, have to adapt to an everchanging geometry while constructing an efficient network. Surprisingly, the result is a non-redundant arterial system easily challenged by acute occlusions. Here, we generalize the optimal network building principles of a flat surface growing into a folded configuration and generate an ideal middle cerebral artery (MCA) configuration that can be directly compared with the normal brain anatomy. We then describe how the Sylvian fissure (the fold in which the MCA is buried) is formed during development and use our findings to account for the differences between the ideal and the actual shaping pattern of the MCA. Our results reveal that folding dynamics condition the development of arterial anastomosis yielding a network without loops and poor response to acute occlusions.
Highlights
Theoretical models for optimal transport networks have been extensively investigated
The material cost of a network can be reduced using narrow vessels, but this occurs at the expense of a high consumption of energy to maintain the flow of a viscous fluid such as blood
We investigated the topological properties of optimal networks feeding the Sylvian fissure (Fig 1B)
Summary
Theoretical models for optimal transport networks have been extensively investigated. These models solve, for a network built using a fixed amount of resources (pipes), the most efficient transport system allowing for oscillations in flow [1, 2]. Theoretical models for optimal transport networks can compute these optimal networks [1, 4] These models provide instances of locally optimal networks that show robust topological properties, notably tree-like structures and loops that balance the benefit of creating bridges, capable of rerouting flow in response to environmental challenges, against the cost of creating those new channels [1, 5, 6]
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