L7: Major vessels of the neck

Question 1

What are the branches of the aortic arch?

Answer 1

❖ The brachiocephalic artery that gives:
 Rt subclavian artery
 Rt common carotid artery

❖ Lt common carotid artery

❖ Lt subclavian artery

Question 2

What is the origin of the common carotid artery?

Answer 2

 The right common carotid artery arises from the brachiocephalic art.

 The left common carotid artery arises from the arch of the aorta.

Question 3

What is the course of the common carotid artery?

Answer 3

 Enters the neck behind the corresponding sternoclavicular joint.
 Then runs upwards and backwards within the carotid sheath.
 Lies partly undercover of sternomastoid muscle

Question 4

What is the termination of the common carotid artery?

Answer 4

-Opposite the upper border of the thyroid cartilage and the intervertebral disc between the 3rd and 4th cervical vertebrae.

-It ends by dividing into 2 terminal branches.

Question 5

What are the branches of the common carotid artery?

Answer 5

Only 2 terminal branches: Which are External and internal carotid arteries.

Question 6

What is the carotid sinus?

Answer 6

The carotid sinus is a dilatation in the terminal part of CCA and beginning of ICA.

Question 7

What is the origin of the external carotid artery?

Answer 7

 It is one of two terminal branches of the common carotid artery
 At the level of the upper border of the thyroid cartilage and the intervertebral disc between the 3rd and 4th cervical vertebrae

Question 8

What is the course of the external carotid artery?

Answer 8

 Ascends upward in neck
 Divided by the posterior belly of the digastric muscle into 3 parts.
 Enters the parotid gland

Question 9

What is the termination of the external carotid artery?

Answer 9

 Behind the neck of the mandible within the parotid gland.
 divides into two terminal branches:
 The maxillary and the superficial temporal.

Question 10

What are the branches of the external carotid artery and what do they supply?

Answer 10

3 from the front:
 Superior thyroid artery: the 1st branch, supplies the thyroid gland
 Lingual artery: supplies the tongue.
 Facial artery: supplies the face.

2 from the back:
 Posterior auricular artery: supplies the scalp
 Occipital artery: supplies the scalp.

1 from medial aspect:
 Ascending pharyngeal artery: 2nd branch, supplies the pharynx

2 terminal branches:
 Superficial temporal artery: supplies the face and scalp.  Maxillary artery: supplies the head and teeth.

Question 11

What are the pulse points in our bodies?

Answer 11

Carotid pulse:
❖ Carotid arteries are felt on the side of the neck, in front of the sternomastoid muscle, just below the angle of the mandible.

Facial pulse:
❖ The facial artery is felt against the base of the mandible.

Superficial temporal pulse:
❖ The superficial temporal artery is felt in front of the ear against the zygomatic arch.

Question 12

What is the origin of the internal carotid artery?

Answer 12

 It is one of two terminal branches of the common carotid artery.
 At the level of the upper border of the thyroid cartilage and the intervertebral disc between the 3rd and 4th cervical vertebrae.

Question 13

What is the course of the internal carotid artery?

Answer 13

 Runs inside the carotid sheath.
 It enters the cranial cavity through the carotid canal in the petrous part of the temporal bone.

Question 14

What is the termination of the internal carotid artery?

Answer 14

Divides into anterior & middle cerebral arteries.

Question 15

What are the branches of the internal carotid artery?

Answer 15

 It has no branches in the neck.
 Has branches supply the brain and the eye.

Question 16

What is the beginning of the external jugular vein?

Answer 16

Union of the posterior division of the retromandibular vein with the posterior auricular vein

Question 17

What is the course of the external jugular vein?

Answer 17

 Descends in the superficial fascia superficial to the sternomastoid muscle
 It pierces the deep fascia of the neck just above the clavicle.

Question 18

What is the termination of the external jugular vein?

Answer 18

In the subclavian vein

Question 19

What are the tributaries of the external jugular vein?

Answer 19

SS TC AJ

1) Suprascapular vein
2) Transverse cervical vein
3) Anterior jugular vein

Question 20

What is the beginning of the internal jugular vein?

Answer 20

Direct continuation of the sigmoid sinus at the jugular foramen.

Question 21

What is the course of the internal jaguar vein?

Answer 21

 Runs downwards through the neck within the whole length of the carotid sheath (with internal and common carotid arteries and the last 4 cranial nerves).
 Lies undercover of sternomastoid muscle

Question 22

What is the termination of the internal jugular vein?

Answer 22

It joins the subclavian vein to form the brachiocephalic

Question 23

What are the tributaries of the internal jaguar vein?

Answer 23

1- Superior thyroid vein

2- Middle thyroid vein

3- Common facial vein

4- Lingual vein

5- Pharyngeal veins

6- inferior petrosal venous sinus

Question 24

What is the medical importance of the internal jaguar vein?

Answer 24

it is used for insertion of central venous catheter