1. Vasculature Flashcards
Where does the arterial supply of the head and neck arise from?
- Right and left common carotid arteries
- Vertebral arteries
What do the vertebral arteries branch from?
Subclavian arteries
What do the vertebral arteries supply?
Posterior neck and posterior parts of the brain e.g. brainstem and cerebellum
Where do the vertebral arteries pass through?
Route:
- Ascends through the transverse foramina of the cervical vertebrae (apart from C7)
- Subarachnoid space between the atlas and occipital bone.
- Foramen magnum
It then curves around the medulla to join the other vertebral artery (from the other side) to form the basilar artery.
Where does the basilar artery run?
Along the anterior (ventral) aspect of the brainstem, more specifically the pons.
Where does the right common carotid artery originate from?
Brachiocephalic artery behind the right sternoclavicular joint.
Where does the left common carotid artery originate from?
Directly out of the branch of aorta
Is the left or right common carotid artery longer?
Left, as it arises out of the aorta. It courses for about 2 cm in the superior mediastinum before entering the neck.
What structure is the common carotid artery found in?
Carotid sheath
What is the carotid sheath?
Fascial envelope of fused cervical fascia
What are the contents of the carotid sheath?
- Carotid artery
- Internal jugular vein
- Vagus nerve
Where is the carotid sheath located?
Deep to the sternocleidomastoid muscle
What is the carotid sheath derived from?
Fusion of three cervical fascia:
- prevertebral layer (posteriorly)
- pretracheal layer (anteromedially)
- investing layer (anterolaterally)
Where does the carotid sheath lie thickest and thinest?
Thinnest = over the vein
Thickest = over the artery
Where do the contents of the carotid sheath lie within it?
- Carotid artery lies medially
- Internal jugular vein lies laterally
- Vagus nerve runs posteriorly and in between the two vessels
Where is the sympathetic chain located?
Posterior and medial to the carotid sheath
Where do the common carotids most commonly terminate?
At the level of the upper border of the thyroid cartilage (C4 level) where they divide into internal and external carotid arteries.
What is the carotid sinus?
A dilated portion of the common carotid and internal common carotid arteries that contain baroreceptors. The baroreceptors detect stretch of the vessel as blood pressure.
What is the carotid body?
Cluster of nervous cells that lie external to the carotid sinus. These act as peripheral chemoreceptors than detect the content of O2 in the blood.
Why is the site of the carotid sinus clinically relevant?
Rubbing this area firmly can alleviate supra-ventricular tachycardias (SVTs) . This is known as a carotid massage.
How does a carotid sinus massage work?
Tricks baroreceptors into thinking that blood pressure is high by applying pressure to the area. This signal is relayed to the brain which orchestrates bradycardia and hypotension.
How can the internal carotid artery be distinguished?
Does not have branches in the neck. Ascends then enters the base of the skull through a bony canal called the carotid canal.
Where does the internal carotid artery pass through intracranially?
Cavernous sinus
Which structure does the internal carotid artery pass through before it branches?
Cavernous sinus
What does the internal carotid artery supply?
Brain and eye
What does the external carotid artery supply?
Extracranial structures
How many branches of the external carotid artery are there?
Eight
What are the branches of the external carotid artery?
- Superior thyroid artery
- Ascending pharyngeal artery
- Lingual artery
- Facial artery
- Occipital artery
- Posterior auricular artery
- Maxillary artery
- Superficial temporal artery
“Some Anatomists Like Freaking Out Poor Medical Students”
What are the terminal branches of the external carotid artery?
Maxillary and Superifical Temporal arteries
Where do the terminal branches of the external carotid artery arise?
Through the parotid gland (superfical temporal artery and maxillary artery)
What is the blood supply of the parotid gland?
Superfical temporal and maxillary artery
What does the maxillary artery supply?
Deep tissues and bone structures of the face:
- Paranasal air sinises
- Nasal cavity
- Parotid gland
What is the origin of the middle meningeal artery?
Maxillary artery
Where does the middle meningeal artery run?
Through the base of the skull