S3) Major Blood Vessels of the Head and Neck Flashcards
What is the anatomical surface landmark that relates to the dotted line A-B in the image below?
Angle of Louis (manubrio-sternal angle)
Name the components of the aorta illustrated as H, I and J
- H – ascending aorta
- I – aortic arch
- J – descending aorta
Name the blood vessels labelled C, D, E, F and G
- C – Brachiocephalic trunk
- D – Right common carotid artery
- E – Right subclavian artery
- F – Left common carotid artery
- G – Left subclavian artery
Which arteries arise from the brachiocephalic trunk on the right hand side?
Subclavian and common carotid arteries
Which arteries arise from subclavian artery in the base of the neck?
What are the branches of the thyrocervical trunk?
- Suprascapular artery
- Ascending cervical artery
- Inferior thyroid artery
- Transverse cervical artery
Which region does the suprascapular artery supply?
Suprascapular artery supplies the shoulder
Which region do the ascending and transverse cervical arteries supply?
Ascending cervical and transverse cervical arteries supply the neck
Which region does the inferior thyroid artery supply?
Inferior thyroid artery supplies lower pole of the thyroid gland
Where do vertebral arteries arise from?
Vertebral arteries arise from the subclavian arteries on left & right
Describe the course of the vertebral arteries through the brain
- Ascend in the neck through transverse foramina in C1-6
- They pass through the foramen magnum
Describe how the vertebral arteries supply the brain
The vertebral arteries supply the brain along with the internal carotid arteries which enter the skull through the carotid canal
Which arteries arise from the common carotid artery?
Common carotid artery bifurcates to give external and internal carotid arteries
Where does the common carotid bifurcate?
The common carotid bifurcates at about the level of the superior border of the thyroid cartilage
Describe the anatomical position of the internal jugular vein
The internal jugular lies lateral to the common carotid mostly under sternocleidomastoid
Bifurcation of the carotid artery is a common site for atheroma formation.
What are the consequences of this?
- Causes stenosis of the artery
- Rupture of the clot can cause an embolus to travel to brain (TIA or stroke)
What is the carotid sinus and what does it do?
- Carotid sinus is a swelling at region of bifurcation
- Location of baroreceptors for detecting changes in aBP
What is the carotid body?
Carotid body is a group of peripheral chemoreceptors which detect arterial O2
Which neurovascular structures can be accessed through the carotid triangle?
- Carotid arteries
- Internal jugular vein
- Vagus nerves
- Hypoglossal nerves