Major Blood Vessels Of Head And Neck Flashcards

1
Q

What is a Carotid Endarterectomy?

A

Making an incision into the neck and carotid artery to remove plaque

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2
Q

Is the IJV or EJV larger?

A

IJV

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3
Q

Which 2 arteries to the head and neck branch off of the Subclavian Artery?

Which of these keep moving upwards to the skull?
Which one branches? What does it branch into?

A
  • Vertebral Artery keeps moving upwards (through Transverse Foramina above C7)
  • Thyrocervical Trunk-> Inferior Thyroid Artery
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4
Q

What nerve does the Inferior Thyroid Artery come close to, that surgeons need to be careful of when operating on thyroid?

A

Recurrent Laryngeal Nerve (branch of Vagus)

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5
Q

Why is the left common carotid artery slightly longer?

A

Left (arises directly from arch of aorta) travels for an extra 2cm in superior mediastinum before entering neck

Whereas right CCA branches off of subclavian artery

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6
Q

Describe the organisation of the Carotid Sheath’s vessels

Where does the sympathetic chain lie in relation to the sheath?

A

CCA lies medially to vein, while vagus nerve is behind and in between the vessels

Sympathetic chain lies outside of the sheath, medially and behind it

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7
Q

At the bifurcation of the CCA, why is the Internal Carotid Artery more bulbous?

A

Due to the Carotid Sinus (and Carotid body)

Sinus is just before the bifurcation

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8
Q

What is the Carotid Sinus?

What is the Carotid Body?

A

A swelling of the CCA just before it bifurcates, containing Baroreceptors

A group of chemoreceptors that detect arterial O2

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9
Q

Clinically, why can rubbing the carotid sinus firmly be beneficial?

A

A carotid massage can alleviate Supra-Ventricular Tachycardias

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10
Q

Which parts of the head are supplied by the Vertebral arteries?

A

Posterior neck and posterior parts of brain (e.g Brainstem, Cerebellum)

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11
Q

Describe the pathway of the Internal Carotid Artery up to the point where it branches to supply the brain and eye?

Explain in 4 steps

A
  1. Ascends through neck, giving off no branches
  2. Enters base of skull through Carotid Canal (In petrous part of temporal bone)
  3. Turns Medially and Horizontally, then makes an S shaped bend
  4. Passes through the Cavernous Sinus
  5. Once it exits, it gives off its branches
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12
Q

Briefly, what is the Cavernous Sinus?

A

A plexus of very thin-walled veins on the upper surface of the Sphenoid bone

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13
Q

The Supra trochlear and Supra orbital arteries are facial arteries, but strangely they do not come from the External Carotid Artery.

Outline their branching pathway

A

Internal Carotid-> Opthalmic-> Supra Trochlear and Orbital arteries

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14
Q

Which branch of the Internal Carotid Artery goes into the Optic nerve?

Why is it a very important artery?

A

Central Retinal Artery

If blood supply is lost, vision in that eye is lost (Can happen from embolism)

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15
Q

Which areas do the Supra trochlear and Supra orbital artery supply?

A

Scalp (also supplied by external carotid artery)

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16
Q

The 1st branch of the Internal Carotid is the Ophthalmic.

Name the 3 that form the anterior circulation of Circle of Willis and supply the brain

A
  • Anterior cerebral artery
  • Middle cerebral artery
  • Posterior communicating artery
17
Q

What Arteries form the posterior circulation of the Circle of Willis?

What connects them to the Anterior circulation

A

Posterior cerebral artery, (branch from Basilar artery)

Connected to ant. circulation via Posterior Communicating artery

18
Q

How do the Vertebral Arteries travel up to the skull after branching off Subclavian artery?

A
  1. Ascend through Cervical Transverse Foramina (except C7)
  2. Enters sub-arachnoid space between Atlas and Occipital bone
  3. Passes up through Foramen Magnum, curves around Medulla to join vertebral artery from other side-> Basilar artery

(This runs along anterior aspect of brainstem, namely the Pons)

19
Q

List the 8 External Carotid Artery Branches

“Some Anatomists Like Freaking Out Poor Medical Students)

A
  1. Superior Thyroid
  2. Ascending Pharyngeal
  3. Lingual (oral cavity and tongue)
  4. Facial
  5. Occipital
  6. Posterior Auricular
  7. Maxillary
  8. Superficial Temporal
20
Q

What are the 2 Terminal branches of the External Carotid?

Where can the facial pulse be felt?

A

Superficial Temoral and Maxillary (travel through Parotid gland, like facial nerve does)

Inferior border of mandible, anterior to Masseter muscle

21
Q

How do patients with Giant Cell Arthritis (GCA)/ Temporal arteritis present?

(Inflammation of superficial temporal artery)

A
  • Frequent severe headaches
  • Scalp tenderness/ pain (e.g brushing hair)
  • Jaw pain while eating/ talking
  • Loss of vision/ visual changes (can be permanent if not treated)
22
Q

As well as the parotid gland, the maxillary artery supplies deep tissue and bone structures (Nasal cavity + paransalsinuses)

It gives off a branch called the Middle Meningeal Artery (MMA) which runs through skull base.

What does it supply?

A

Meninges and skull bones

23
Q

Name the layers of the scalp

Which layer are the arteries in?

A
Skin
Connective tissue (arteries in here)
Aponeurosis 
Loose Areolar Tissue 
Periosteum
24
Q

Why can small scalp cuts lead to large amounts of bleeding?

Give 3 reasons

A
  • Lots of anastomoses
  • Artery walls held/ pulled open by connective tissue so can’t constrict
  • Lacerations deep enough to cut aponeurosis-> Muscles of Occipitofrontalis ”pull” cut open more
25
Q

What opening does the Middle Meningeal Artery enter the skull from?

Describe its branching

A

Enters through Foramen Spinosum, branch’s into Anterior and Posterior branches

(Leaves an indent on skull in young age as it pushes on the bone)

26
Q

What is unique to facial veins?

A

Valveless

27
Q

Describe the drainage of the Superfical Temporal, Occipital and Posterior Auricular Veins into the Sublcavian vein

A
  • Superficial Temporal and Occipital Combine together to form Retromandibular Vein
  • Posterior Auricular vein joins RM vein-> EJV
  • EJV-> Subclavian Vein
28
Q

Why can facial infection spread to intracranial structures?

A

Facial artery is connected to Superior and Inferior Opthalmic veins, which are directly connected to Cavernous Sinus AND Pterygoid Venous Plexus

29
Q

Why can scalp infections spread to intracranial structures?

A

Extra-cranial scalp veins are connected to Dural/ Intra-cranial Venous Sinuses, via Emissary veins running through the skull

30
Q

What is the Danger Triangle of the face?

A

Region where facial vein can drain backwards into Cavernous Sinus (Rare but dangerous)

(Infections can end up in Dural Venous Sinuses_

31
Q

Describe the route of blood flow with regard to venous sinuses

A
  • Cerebral veins drain into Superior Saggital Sinus
  • SS Sinus splits into left and right Transverse Sinuses
  • T Sinuses continue as Sigmoid Sinuses which bend in an S shape and drain into IVJ, exiting skull through Jugular Foramen
32
Q

As well as the facial vein, the IJV gets blood from the Tongue and Thyroid Gland.

Describe its path into the SVC

A

Joins with Subclavian Vein to form Braciocephalic Vein, which drains into SVC

33
Q

Describe the drainage of the Supra Orbital and Trochlear veins into the facial vein

A
  • Drain into Angular vein at Medial angle of eye towards inferior border of mandible.
  • Angular vein continues as facial vein (with facial artery)
  • Facial vein joins IJV (a continuation of the Sigmoid Sinus)
34
Q

What is Amaurosis Fugax

A

Visual loss due to a clot

35
Q

Other than the MMA, name an important branch of the Maxillary Artery

A

Sphenopalatine artery