Head and Neck Cardiovascular Anatomy

Question 1

external carotid artery

Answer 1

branches off from common carotid, continues to branch off into other arteries

Question 2

internal carotid artery

Answer 2

branches off from common carotid, does not branch off into other arteries and instead directly supplies the skull

Question 3

vertebral artery

Answer 3

branches off from subclavian, passes through transverse foramen in cervical vertebrae

Question 4

superficial thyroid artery

Answer 4

most inferior branch off external carotid, supplies top of gland

Question 5

ascending pharyngeal artery

Answer 5

branches off superior to superficial thyroid

Question 6

lingual artery

Answer 6

branches off superior to ascending pharyngeal

Question 7

facial artery

Answer 7

branches off from lingual artery

Question 8

occipital artery

Answer 8

branches off superior to lingual, supplies occipital lobe

Question 9

posterior auricular artery

Answer 9

branches off superior to occipital, supplies ear

Question 10

maxillary artery

Answer 10

branches off superior to posterior auricular

Question 11

superficial temporal artery

Answer 11

branches off superior to maxillary artery, supplies temporal lobe

Question 12

basilar artery

Answer 12

formed when right and left vertebral arteries converge

Question 13

circle of willis

Answer 13

branching between internal carotid and basilar arteries to connect them - maintains perfusion throughout the brain despite presence of clot

Question 14

external and internal jugular veins

Answer 14

drain into the superior vena cava (internal is bigger)

Question 15

venous sinuses

Answer 15

venous channels forming within the brain

Question 16

superior sagittal sinus

Answer 16

runs along the top of the brain (sagittal cut)

Question 17

inferior sagittal sinus

Answer 17

runs along the bottom of the brain (sagittal cut)

Question 18

transverse sinus

Answer 18

runs across the back of the brain (transverse cut)

Question 19

sigmoid sinus

Answer 19

branches off anteriorly from the transverse sinus