Session 1 - Part II

Question 1

What does the common carotid artery biforcate into?

Answer 1

Internal carotid

External carotid

Question 2

What is the Thyrocervical trunk?

Answer 2

A branch of the subclavian artery. It splits into 4 vessels shortly after it originates

Question 3

What does the Thyrocervical trunk divide into?

Answer 3

Inferior thyroid artery
Suprascapular artery
Ascending cervical artery
Transverse cervical artery

Question 4

Does the internal carotid artery give branches?

Answer 4

No it goes straight to the brain

Question 5

Does the external carotid artery give branches?

Answer 5

Yes, it supplies the head and neck

Question 6

At what level does the common carotid biforcate?

Answer 6

The superior border of the thyroid cartilage (Approx C4)

Question 7

What is a common site for atheroma in the neck?

Answer 7

The common carotid artery causing stenosis. If it ruptures it can cause an embolism leading to a TIA/Stroke

Question 8

What are the contents of the carotid sheath?

Answer 8

Common carotid artery
Internal jugular vein
Vagus nerve
Some cervical lymph nodes

Question 9

Where can the carotid pulse be felt?

Answer 9

In the Carotid triangle

Question 10

Where can the carotid massage be performed?

Answer 10

In the Carotid triangle

Question 11

What is the clinical use of the Carotid triangle?

Answer 11

Surgical access to arteries, Internal jugular vein, Hypoglossal and vagus nerve
Carotid pulse can be felt
Carotid massage can be performed

Question 12

Name a branche of the Internal carotid?

Answer 12

Opthalmic artery

Question 13

What does the Opthalmic artery branch into?

Answer 13

The Supraorbital artery

The Supratrochlear artery

Question 14

How many branches does the External carotid artery give off?

Answer 14

6 branches in the head and 2 terminal branches

Supply the scalp

Question 15

Why does the scalp bleed badly when lacerations occur?

Answer 15

The arteries have limited constriction
Many anastomoses
If the laceration is through the epicranial aponeurosis the muscles pull the cut apart more

Question 16

What is the venous drainage of the scalp?

Answer 16

Supraoribital vein and supratrochlear vein unite at the medial angle of the eye to become the Angular vein. This then drains into the facial vein

Question 17

What is unique about the veins in the scalp?

Answer 17

The are valveless

Means infection can spread to the cranial cavity from the scalp and then affect the meninges

Question 18

What are Dural venous sinuses?

Answer 18

Venous channels found between layers of dura mater in the brain.

Question 19

What are the arteries supplying the Dura and skull?

Answer 19

Maxillary artery gives off middle meningeal artery which then biforcates into anterior and posterior

Question 20

What is the Pterion?

Answer 20

Where the 4 bones of the skull meet

Question 21

What is the clinical significance of the Pterion?

Answer 21

Weak point of the skull so a blow to the head here would damage the middle meningeal artery
Causes extradural haemorrhage which would pull the dura away

Question 22

Where does the cerebral veins drain into?

Answer 22

The dural venous sinuses