Veins of the head and neck Flashcards
What three parts can venous drainage be divided into?
Venous drainage of the:
Brain and meninges
Scalp and face
Neck
What are the three main jugular veins?
External
Internal
Anterior
Where does the external jugular vein supply?
External favs
What is the external jugular vein formed by?
Posterior auricular vein and the retromandibular vein
Where do the posterior auricular vein and retromandibular vein meet?
Posterior to the angle of the mandible and inferior to the outer ear
What does the external jugular vein run down anteriorly?
Sternocleidomastoid
What does the external jugular vein pass underneath?
Clavicle
How does the external jugular vein terminate?
Drains into the subclavian vein
What is the main problem with the external jugular vein?
It is very superficial so is vulnerable to damage
What happens if the external jugular vein is severed?
Lumen is held open by thick layer of investing Fascia
Air is drawn into vein causing cyanosis and can stop blood flow through the right atrium
How can you manage an injury to the external jugular vein?
Pressure to the wound
Where does the internal jugular vein begin?
Cranial cavity as a continuation of the sigmoid sinus
What is the initial part of internal jugular vein that is dilated called?
Superior bulb
How does the IJV exit the skull?
Jugular foramen
What does the IJV descend within?
Carotid sheath
What is the IJV lateral to and also deep to?
Lateral to the common carotid artery
Deep to the sternocleidomastoid
At the bottom of the neck what does the IJV combine with and what does it form?
Combines with the subclavian vein to make the brachiocephalic vein
What is the Inferior bulb of the IJV?
When the inferior end of the IJV dilates
Where does the IJV receive blood from?
Facial
Lingual
Occipital
Superior and middle thyroid veins
What is jugular venous pressure?
Can be observed for pulsation which can provide an estimation of right atrial pressure
Accurate as no valves in the brachiocephalic or subclavian veins
What are dural venous sinuses?
Spaces between the periosteal and meningeal layers of the dura which are lined by endothelial cells
What do dural venous sinuses collect?
Venous blood from the veins that drain the brain and bony skull and ultimately drain into the IJV
What is the cavernous sinus?
Clinically important pair of dural sinuses next to the sphenoid bone
What is inside the cavernous sinus?
Internal carotid artery which allows for cooling of the blood before it reaches the brain
There are also many nerve s
Why is the cavernous sinus becoming infected a problem?
The nerves are at risk of damage
Facial nerve is connected to face and valve so can be a others for infection of the face can spread to venous sinuses
Where does the external jugular vein supply?
External face
What does the external jugular vein pass underneath?
Clavicle
