Term 2 Exam: Blood flow through the Head and Neck

Question 1

What is the direction of arterial blood flow through the head and neck?

Answer 1

Heart > Brachiocephalic trunk > Common Carotid Artery > External* & Internal Carotid Arteries > head and neck regions *External carotid artery also supplies blood to superior thyroid, occipital, temporal, lingual, maxillary and facial arteries

Question 2

Label

Answer 2

Question 3

What are three major arteries that branch out of the superior aspect of the arch of the aorta?

Answer 3

1. Brachiocephalic trunk
2. Left Common Carotid
3. Left Subclavian

Question 4

How does blood flow through the cranium?

Answer 4

Subclavian artery > Vertebral Artery > Basilar Artery > Anterior, middle and posterior cerebral arteries > Anterior and posterior communicating arteries (circle of willis)

Question 5

What is important about the circle of willis?

Answer 5

• Forms the cerebral arterial circle around the pituitary.
• Equalizes blood pressure in the brain and can provide collateral channels should one vessel become blocked

Question 6

What is the direction of venal blood flow through the neck and head?

Answer 6

Head & Neck regions > Internal and External Jugular Veins > Subclavian vein > Brachiocephalic vein > heart

Question 7

Blood draining from the head passes into what three pairs of veins?

Answer 7

1. Internal Jugular
2. External Jugular
3. Vertebral Veins

Question 8

In the brain, all blood drains into ____________ and then into the ______________?

Answer 8

Dural venous sinuses and then into the internal jugular veins

Question 9

What are dural venous sinuses?

Answer 9

endothelial-lined venous channels between layers of the cranial dura mater

Question 10

What are five major dural venous sinuses that contribute to the internal jugular vein?

Answer 10

1. superior sagittal sinus
2. Inferior sagittal sinus
3. straight sinus
4. sigmoid sinus
5. cavenous sinus

Question 11

What is the direction of venous blood flow from the brain to the heart (circle of willis)?

Answer 11

Anterior and Posterior communicating veins (circle of willis) > Anterior, middle and posterior cerebral veins > Basilar vein > Vertebral vein > Brachiocephalic vein > Superior Vena Cava > Heart