Blood Supply to the head & neck

What arteries arise from the arch of the aorta?

Brachiocephalic artery, left common carotid artery, right subclavian artery

What does the brachiocephalic artery give rise to?

Right common carotid artery and right subclavian artery

What artery arises from the right subclavian artery?

Right vertebral artery

What does the right common carotid artery split into?

Right external carotid and right internal carotid arteries

What does the left common carotid artery give rise to?

Left external carotid and left internal carotid arteries

What artery arises from the left subclavian artery?

Left vertebral artery

What do vertebral arteries supply?

Spinal cord and vertebral muscles

Where does the left common carotid artery originate?

Directly from the arch of the aorta

Where does the right common carotid artery originate?

Brachiocephalic artery

What regions do the common carotid arteries supply?

Both sides of the head and neck

What do both common carotid arteries divide into?

Internal and external carotid arteries

What is the course of the internal carotid artery?

Travels deep into the face and skull

What canal does the internal carotid pass through?

Carotid canal at the base of the skull

Where does the internal carotid artery enter?

Cranial cavity

What areas does the internal carotid artery supply?

Brain, eyes, forehead and nose

What structures does the external carotid artery supply?

Superficial head and neck structures

What regions are supplied by the external carotid artery?

Neck, face, scalp, tongue, and maxilla

How many main branches does the external carotid artery have?

Eight

What mnemonic helps remember external carotid branches?

She Always Likes Friends Over Papa Sister Mama

What are the eight branches of the external carotid artery?

Superior thyroid, ascending pharyngeal, lingual, facial, occipital, posterior auricular, superficial temporal, maxillary

What does the superior thyroid artery supply?

Thyroid gland and neck and laryngeal muscles

What does the ascending pharyngeal artery supply?

Pharynx, soft palate, and prevertebral muscles

How many branches does the lingual artery have?

Three

What are the three branches of the lingual artery?

Dorsal lingual, sublingual, deep lingual

What does the dorsal lingual artery supply?

Base of tongue, tonsils, soft palate, epiglottis

What does the sublingual artery supply?

Sublingual gland and floor of mouth tissues

What does the deep lingual artery supply?

Body of the tongue

What is the key supply area of the lingual artery?

Tongue, sublingual gland, buccal and gingival mucosa

What does the facial artery supply?

Facial skin, muscles, and submandibular gland

What does the occipital artery supply?

Posterior neck muscles, scalp, and ear skin

What does the posterior auricular artery supply?

Ear structures and surrounding skin

What does the superficial temporal artery supply?

Scalp, parotid gland, and temporomandibular joint

What are the terminal branches of the external carotid artery?

Superficial temporal and maxillary arteries

What regions does the maxillary artery supply?

Maxillofacial region including deep facial areas

What hard tissues are supplied by the maxillary artery?

Mandible and maxilla

What nasal structures are supplied by the maxillary artery?

Nasal cavities

What artery supplies the maxillary teeth?

Superior alveolar artery

What branches does the superior alveolar artery have?

Posterior, middle, and anterior branches

Where does venous blood from the head and neck drain into?

Superior vena cava

Where does blood from the superior vena cava flow?

Right atrium

Where does blood go after the right atrium?

Right ventricle then lungs

What veins does the superior vena cava split into?

Right and left brachiocephalic veins

What is the venous pathway on the right side?

Superior vena cava to right brachiocephalic to subclavian to internal jugular

What is the venous pathway on the left side?

Superior vena cava to left brachiocephalic to subclavian to internal jugular

What veins branch off the right subclavian vein?

Right external jugular and vertebral vein

What veins branch off the left subclavian vein?

Left external jugular and vertebral vein

What do the internal and external jugular veins drain?

Brain, skull, oral cavity, face, and neck

What is the external jugular vein the counterpart of?

External carotid artery

What veins form the posterior retromandibular vein?

Superficial temporal vein and maxillary vein

What does the superficial temporal vein drain?

Scalp

What forms the maxillary vein?

Pterygoid venous plexus

What regions does the maxillary vein drain?

Palate, nasal cavity, sinuses, nasopharynx

What veins form the posterior external jugular vein?

Posterior retromandibular & posterior auricular veins

What does the posterior auricular vein drain?

Skin behind the ear

What veins drain the muscles of the neck?

Cervical and suprascapular veins

How is the anterior jugular vein formed?

From superficial submandibular veins

What does the anterior jugular vein drain?

Anterior neck

What mnemonic helps remember external jugular branches?

PAST

What veins combine to form the external jugular vein?

Posterior external jugular, anterior jugular, suprascapular, transverse cervical

What is the internal jugular vein?

Main vein draining blood from the brain, face, and neck into the brachiocephalic vein

What mnemonic helps remember internal jugular contents?

Many Schools Let Confident People In

What does “M” in the internal jugular vein mnemonic stand for?

Middle thyroid vein

What does the middle thyroid vein drain?

Thyroid gland and nearby neck muscles

What does “S” in the internal jugular vein mnemonic stand for?

Superior thyroid vein

What does the superior thyroid vein drain?

Upper part of thyroid gland and larynx

What does “L” in the internal jugular vein mnemonic stand for?

Lingual vein

What does the lingual vein drain?

Tongue, floor of mouth, and sublingual glands

What does “C” in the internal jugular vein mnemonic stand for?

Common facial vein

What does the common facial vein drain?

Forehead, eyelids, outer surface of nose, lips, submental region, masseter, parotid gland, soft palate

What does “P” in the internal jugular vein mnemonic stand for?

Pharyngeal vein

What does the pharyngeal vein drain?

Pharynx and surrounding tissues

What does “I” in the internal jugular vein mnemonic stand for?

Inferior petrosal sinus

Where does the internal jugular vein terminate?

Joins the subclavian vein to form the brachiocephalic vein

What does the common facial vein form from?

Facial vein and anterior retromandibular vein

What does the inferior petrosal sinus drain?

Brain and meningeal veins

What is the pterygoid venous plexus?

Network of veins around pterygoid muscles

Where is the pterygoid venous plexus located?

Infratemporal fossa

What is the function of the pterygoid venous plexus?

Forms maxillary vein and pumps blood to heart

Why is infection in the pterygoid venous plexus dangerous?

It can spread rapidly into the skull

Why is the pterygoid venous plexus important in dentistry?

Risk of haematoma during inferior dental nerve blocks