Major Blood Vessels Of The Head And Neck

Question 1

Give the 3 major groupings of arteries in the neck.

Answer 1

1. Vertebral arteries
2. Common carotid arteries
3. Thyrocervial arteries

Question 2

Describe the path of the veratral arteries to the skull.

Answer 2

The VA are a branch of the subclavian artery.

They enter the transverse foramen at the level of C6 and then enter the skull through the foramen magnum.

Question 3

Name the branches of the tyrocervical trunk.

Answer 3

1. Inferior thyroid artery
2. Ascending cervical artery
3. Transverse cervical artery
4. Suprascapular artery

Question 4

Name the branches of the external coranoid arteries.

Answer 4

REMEMBER: Some anatomists like freaking out poor medical students

S: Superior thyroid artery 
A: Ascending pharneygeal
L:  Lingual artery
F: Facial artery 
O: Occipital artery 
P: Posterior auricular artery
M: Maxillary artery
S: Superficial temporal artery

Question 5

AT what point does the common corotid bifurcate.

Answer 5

• C4

- Superior board of the thyroid cartilage

Question 6

How do you expose the internal jugular vein on a patient?

Answer 6

Ask them to turn their head to the left (your right).

Question 7

Explain why a patient would be required to turn their head to the left during a cardiovascular examination.

Answer 7

To expose the internal jugular vein by moving the SCM out of the way.

Question 8

How would you clinically determine a raised JVP.

Answer 8

A column of fluid that is greater than 5cm in height from the patient’s sternal angle.

Question 9

Explain why a patient may present with a raised JVP.

Answer 9

Raised right arterial pressure leads to congestion of blood in vein. (THIS IS PROBS BECAUSE OF RIGHT SIDED HEART FAILURE)

Question 10

What 2 structures can be found at the point of corotid artery bifurcation?

Answer 10

1. Carotid body

2. Carotid sinus

Question 11

Describe the function of:

1. Carotid body
2. Carotid sinus

Answer 11

1. Has chemo-receptors present which detect levels of O2 and relay this to the brain
2. Has baroreceptors present which detect levels of stretch and relay this to the brain

Question 12

Explain, using the following equations, why an increase in carotid sinus sensitivity could lead to syncope.

CO= HRSV
aBP=COTPR

Answer 12

aBP=HRSVTPR

Therefore, with only slight increases in pressure the baroreceptors in the carotid sinus are activated and send a parasympathetic signal to slow the HR.

Hence this decreases aBP which will not satisfy the O2 demands of the brain tissues, hence the fainting.

Question 13

Explain why atheroma formation is common at the cortoid birfircation.

Answer 13

Here there is turbulent blood flow, hence the probability of endothelial damage and subsequently atheroma forming increases.

Question 14

What is the concern linked to a cortoid sinus massage in old patients.

Answer 14

Potential atheromas become dislodged, leading to stroke.

Question 15

Name the boarders of the carotid triangle.

Answer 15

Superior: posterior belly of digastric muscle
Lateral: SCM
Medial: superior belly of omohyoid