3.1 Major Blood Vessels of Head and Neck

Question 1

What do the subclavian and common carotid arteries arise from on the right?

Answer 1

Brachiocephalic trunk

Question 2

Which arteries arise from the subclavian arteries in the base of the neck?

Answer 2

Vertebral
Internal thoracic
Thyrocervical

Question 3

Does the common carotid artery give off any branches in the neck?

Answer 3

No

It bifurcates to give external and internal carotid arteries

Question 4

What part of the thyrocervical trunk supplies the neck?

Answer 4

Ascending cervical and transverse cervical

Question 5

What part of the thyrocervical trunk supplies the shoulder?

Answer 5

Suprascapular

Question 6

What part of the thyrocervical trunk supplies the lower pole of the thyroid gland?

Answer 6

Inferior thyroid

Question 7

What is the location of the bifurcation of the common carotid?

Answer 7

Superior border of thyroid cartilage

C4

Question 8

How can a carotid artery atheroma cause a TIA or stroke?

Answer 8

Atheroma causes narrowing of artery

Rupture of clot can cause an embolus to travel to the brain

Question 9

What is the carotid sinus and what does it detect?

Answer 9

Swelling at the region of bifurcation that has baroreceptors to detect changes in arterial BP

Question 10

What does the carotid body detect?

Answer 10

Peripheral chemoreceptors which detect arterial O2

Question 11

What can be accessed via carotid triangle for surgery?

Answer 11

Carotid arteries
IJV
Vagus nerve
Hypoglossal nerve

Question 12

How does a carotid sinus massage work?

Answer 12

Apply pressure to terminate a supra ventricular tachycardia

Stimulates vagus to slow down heart

Question 13

Describe the route of the internal carotid artery

Answer 13

Enters the skull through the carotid canal in petrous part of temporal bone
Turns medially and horizontally
Enters the cranial cavity then makes and S shaped bend
Course through cavernous sinus

Question 14

Where can the cavernous sinus be found?

Answer 14

On either side of pituitary gland on upper surface of sphenoid

Question 15

What is in the cavernous sinus?

Answer 15

Internal carotid artery 
CN III Oculomotor
CN IV Trochlear 
CN VI Abducens 
CN Va Ophthalmic 
CN Vb Maxillary

Question 16

What is the pneumonic to remember the contents of the cavernous sinus?

Answer 16

O TOM CAT

Question 17

What is the first brach of the internal carotid?

Answer 17

Ophthalmic artery

Question 18

Name the branches of the ophthalmic artery?

Answer 18

Supratroachlear

Supraorbital

Question 19

Name the branches of the external carotid artery

Answer 19

Superior thyroid 
Ascending pharyngeal 
Lingual 
Facial 
Occipital 
Posterior auricular 
Maxillary
Superficial temporal

Question 20

Describe the blood supply scalp

Answer 20

Internal carotid

• Supra orbital
• Supra trochlear

External carotid

• Superficial temporal
• Posterior auricular
• Occipital

Question 21

What are the layers of the scalp?

Answer 21

Skin
Connective tissue - dense
Aponeurosis 
Loose CT 
Periosteum

Question 22

Where do the vessels of the scalp lie?

Answer 22

In the subcutaneous connective tissue layer

Question 23

Why can injury to the scalp cause profuse bleeding?

Answer 23

• Walls of arteries closely attached to CT limits constriction
• Numerous anastomoses
• Opposing pull of occiptofrontalis

Question 24

Why does loss of scalp not lead to bone necrosis?

Answer 24

Blood supply to skull is from middle meningeal

Question 25

From what artery do most superficial arteries of the face arise?

Answer 25

External carotid

Question 26

Name two branches of the maxillary artery?

Answer 26

Middle meningeal | Sphenopalatine

Question 27

Describe the blood supply to the nasal septum

Answer 27

Anastomosis of arteries in Kisselbach area | Common site for nose bleed (sphenopalatine)

Question 28

What are the most important branches in Kisselbachs area?

Answer 28

Septal branch of sphenopalatine artery from the maxillary artery Anterior ethmoidal arteries from ophthalmic artery

Question 29

Which foramina does the middle meningeal artery travel through?

Answer 29

Foramen spinosum

Question 30

How does infection from scalp spread to the cranial cavity and affect the meninges?

Answer 30

Veins of scalp connect to diploid veins though emissary veins and then to dural venous sinus Emissary veins are valveless

Question 31

Do veins of the face have valves?

Answer 31

No

Question 32

What sinuses are the facial veins connected to?

Answer 32

Cavernous sinus | Pterygoid sinus

Question 33

What is the danger triangle of the face?

Answer 33

An area of face in which infections can spread through the venous system to the dural venous sinuses

Question 34

How do the sigmoid sinuses exit the skull?

Answer 34

Continue as IJV and leave through jugular foramen

Question 35

What is the IJV an indication of?

Answer 35

Pressure in the right atrium

Question 36

What is JVP measured in?

Answer 36

mmH2O

Question 37

How is JVP measured?

Answer 37

Height from sternal angle + 5cm