Major Blood vessels of Head and Neck Flashcards
What does the internal carotid supply?
Brain (along with vertebral artery)
What three major structures does the external carotid supply?
Face, scalp, skull
Which artery mostly supplies the face and what vessel does it branch off of?
Facial artery, branch of ECA
Name the two small branches off ICA which help supply the face (in addition to the the facial artery from ECA)
ICA -> Ophthalmic a -> Supratrochlear and supraorbital branches
What specific branch supplies the skull and dura and what vessel does it branch off of?
Middle meninges artery, a branch of the maxillary (terminal branch of ECA)
Which vessel do the superficial veins drain into?
External jugular vein (EJV)
Which vessel do the deep veins drain into?
Internal jugular vein (IJV)
Where do SOME deep facial and scalp veins drain into (and where is it?)
Describe how this may be a potential route of infection and what may occur as a result
The cavernous sinus -> pterygoid venous plexus in the infratemporal fossa of the skull
If an infection spreads to the cavernous sinus it may cause a cavernous sinus thrombosis
Name the three major branches off the subclavian artery
- Vertebral
- Thyrocervical
- Internal thoracic
Name the four major branches of the thyrocervical trunk from inferior-superior
- Suprascapular
- Transverse cervical
- Inferior Thyroid
- Ascending cervical
Which vessels do NOT give off branches in the neck?
Common carotid and internal carotid (As it ascends to supply intra-cranial structures)
What vertebral level and anatomical structure are associated with the level where the common carotid bifurcates?
C4, superior border of thyroid cartilage
What vessels are within the carotid triangle and which nerves can be accessed through it?
Internal jugular vein
Bifurcation of common carotid
Can access the VAGUS n and hypoglossal n CN XII
What can be felt within the carotid triangle?
The carotid pulse
Where is the carotid sinus found and which receptors is it associated with?
It’s a swelling at the bifurcation of the common carotid at the beginning of the ICA. Has baroreceptors responsible for detecting changes (increases via stretching) in arterial BP
Where is the carotid body found and which receptors is it associated with?
Near bifurcation of carotid artery and has peripheral chemoreceptors which detect decreases in paO2 and pH (and increases in pCO2)
What might happen if a fatty deposit/atheroma located at the bifurcation of the carotid ruptures?
Embolus travels to the brain, may lead to a TIA or stroke
Name the 6 branches of the ECA
Some anatomists like freaking out poor medical students
Superficial temporal - terminal Ascending pharyngeal Lingual Facial Occipital Posterior auricular Maxillary - terminal Superior thyroid
Where can the facial artery pulse be felt/palpated? (Anterior to which muscle?)
About half way along the inferior border of the mandible, anterior to the masseter
Which five major branches supply the scalp and which vessels do they derive from?
OSPSS
- Occipital (ECA)
- Superficial Temporal (ECA)
- Posterior auricular (ECA)
- Supratrochlear (ICA)
- Supraorbital (ICA)
Does the loss of blood supply to the scalp lead to bone necrosis? Why or why not?
NO as the skull is mostly supplied by the middle meningeal artery (a branch off the maxillary)
What limits the constriction of arteries supplying the scalp?
The walls of the arteries are closely attached to the epicranial aponeurosis
Which two veins are responsible for superficial venous drainage to the head and neck and which is responsible for deep venous drainage?
Superficial:
- External jugular
- Anterior jugular
Deep: Internal jugular vein
Describe the path of the internal jugular vein
- Begins in cranial cavity as a continuation of the sigmoid sinus
- Exits skull via jugular foramen
- Descends down carotid sheath
- Posterior to sternal end of clavicle it joins with the subclavian vein to form the brachiocephalic vein