Scalp Anatomy Review — Five Layers, Nerves, Arteries, Veins, and Lymph

50 flashcards covering scalp layers, muscles, sensory and vascular supply, venous drainage, lymphatics, and key relationships.

What does the SCALP acronym stand for in the five scalp layers?

Skin; Dense connective tissue; Galea aponeurotica (epicranial aponeurosis); Loose areolar tissue; Pericranium.

Which layer is described as thick, hair-bearing skin that contains numerous sebaceous glands?

Skin.

Which layer beneath the skin is fibrofatty and contains fibrous septa uniting the skin to the underlying aponeurosis?

Dense connective tissue.

What is the thin tendinous sheet that unites the occipital and frontal bellies of the occipitofrontalis muscle?

Galea aponeurotica (epicranial aponeurosis).

What is the potential space beneath the epicranial aponeurosis called?

Subaponeurotic space (loose areolar tissue).

What is the periosteum covering the outer surface of the skull called?

Pericranium.

Which layer loosely connects the epicranial aponeurosis to the periosteum and contains small arteries, veins, and emissary veins?

Loose areolar tissue.

Where are the lateral margins of the galea aponeurotica attached?

To the temporal fascia.

What is the subaponeurotic space bounded by anterior and posterior origins of the occipitofrontalis and extending laterally to the aponeurosis–temporal fascia attachment?

Subaponeurotic space.

Which layer allows the aponeurosis to move on the pericranium when the muscle contracts?

Loose areolar tissue (fourth layer) and its function.

Which muscle’s frontal bellies can raise the eyebrows?

Frontal belly of the occipitofrontalis.

What happens to the first three layers of the scalp when the occipitofrontalis muscle contracts?

They move forward or backward; the loose areolar tissue of the fourth layer allows the aponeurosis to move on the pericranium.

Where are the main sensory nerve trunks of the scalp located?

In the superficial fascia.

Name the six nerves listed as supplying the scalp.

Supratrochlear, Supraorbital, Zygomaticotemporal, Auriculotemporal, Lesser occipital, Greater occipital.

Which nerve is a branch of the ophthalmic division of CN V and winds around the superior orbital margin to supply the scalp and reach near the vertex?

Supratrochlear nerve.

Which nerve, a branch of the ophthalmic division, winds around the superior orbital margin and ascends over the forehead to supply the scalp?

Supraorbital nerve.

Which nerve is a branch of the maxillary division of CN V and supplies the scalp over the temple?

Zygomaticotemporal nerve.

Which nerve, a branch of the mandibular division of CN V, ascends over the side of the head from in front of the auricle to supply the scalp?

Auriculotemporal nerve.

Which nerve is a branch of the cervical plexus (C2) and supplies the scalp over the lateral occipital region and the medial surface of the auricle?

Lesser occipital nerve.

Which nerve is a branch of the posterior ramus of the 2nd cervical nerve and supplies the skin of the back of the scalp up to the vertex?

Greater occipital nerve.

In front of the ear, which arteries ascend with their corresponding nerves?

Supratrochlear and supraorbital arteries (branches of the ophthalmic artery).

Which artery is the smaller terminal branch of the external carotid artery and ascends in front of the auricle with the auriculotemporal nerve?

Superficial temporal artery.

Behind the ear, which artery ascends to supply the scalp above and behind the auricle?

Posterior auricular artery.

From which artery does the occipital artery arise, and what region does it supply?

Arises from the external carotid artery; supplies the skin over the back of the scalp up to the vertex.

Which veins unite at the medial margin of the orbit to form the angular vein?

Supratrochlear and supraorbital veins.

Which vein unites with the maxillary vein in the parotid gland to form the retromandibular vein?

Superficial temporal vein.

Which vein unites with the posterior division of the retromandibular vein just below the parotid gland to form the external jugular vein?

Posterior auricular vein.

Where does the occipital vein drain?

Into the suboccipital venous plexus.

What does the suboccipital venous plexus drain into?

Vertebral veins or the internal jugular vein.

What connects the superficial scalp veins with the diploic veins and intracranial venous sinuses?

Emissary veins (valveless).

Where do the anterior part of the scalp and forehead lymphatics drain?

Submandibular lymph nodes.

Lymphatics from the lateral part of the scalp above the ear drain into which nodes?

Superficial parotid (preauricular) nodes.

Where do lymph vessels in the scalp above and behind the ear drain?

Mastoid nodes.

Where do lymphatics from the back of the scalp drain?

Occipital nodes.

Why does a small cut in the scalp bleed profusely?

Scalp has a rich arterial blood supply and arteries lie in the superficial fascia.

Where are the scalp arteries located?

In the superficial fascia.

Which layer’s connective tissue contains the septa that binds the skin to the aponeurosis and harbors arteries and veins?

Dense connective tissue.

Which layer contains the epicranial aponeurosis and forms the roof of the scalp?

Galea aponeurotica.

What is another term for the galea aponeurotica?

Epicranial aponeurosis.

Which tissue forms the boundary warmth between the aponeurosis and skull and allows movement of the scalp?

Loose areolar tissue.

What is the continuation of the outer periosteum at skull sutures to the inner surface periosteum called?

Pericranium continuity.

What is the role of the epicranial aponeurosis in separating scalp layers from underlying structures?

It unites the occipitofrontalis muscle bellies and provides a movable layer for the scalp.

Which nerve supplies the skin over the temple region?

Zygomaticotemporal nerve.

Which nerve supplies the skin over the forehead and reaches nearly to the vertex?

Supraorbital nerve.

Which nerve supplies the skin over the lateral occipital region and medial auricle?

Lesser occipital nerve.

Which nerve supplies the skin over the back of the scalp up to the vertex?

Greater occipital nerve.

Which artery supplies the forehead in coordination with the supratrochlear and supraorbital nerves?

Supratrochlear and supraorbital arteries.

What arteries lie in front of the ear and ascend with the frontal region in the scalp?

Supratrochlear and supraorbital arteries (from ophthalmic artery); also the superficial temporal artery nearby.

What is the main arterial supply to the scalp discussed in the notes?

Supratrochlear, Supraorbital, Superficial temporal, Posterior auricular, and Occipital arteries.

Which term describes the space beneath the epicranial aponeurosis that is also a potential space?

Subaponeurotic space.

What structure connects the outer surface periosteum with the inner surface periosteum at skull sutures?

Pericranium continuity (outer vs inner periosteum).

What part of the scalp is drained by the mastoid nodes?

The part of the scalp above and behind the ear.

Which layer of the scalp contains emissary veins?

Loose areolar tissue.

What general feature explains why scalp wounds bleed a lot?

Rich vascular supply and numerous arteries in the superficial fascia.

What does the term 'galea' refer to in scalp anatomy?

The galea aponeurotica, the fibrous sheet uniting the frontal and occipital bellies.

Which nerve is a branch of the maxillary division of CN V and supplies the temple region?

Zygomaticotemporal nerve.

Which nerve is a branch of the ophthalmic division of CN V and supplies the scalp near the vertex?

Supratrochlear nerve.

Which nerve is a branch of the ophthalmic division of CN V and supplies the scalp over the forehead?

Supraorbital nerve.

Which nerve supplies the skin over the front of the ear region?

Auriculotemporal nerve.

Which vein continues as the facial vein after forming the angular vein?

Angular vein continues as the facial vein.

Which vein is formed when the superficial temporal vein unites with the maxillary vein?

Retromandibular vein.

Which artery ascends behind the auricle to supply the scalp behind the ear?

Posterior auricular artery.

Which vein drains into the vertebral veins or the internal jugular vein via the suboccipital plexus?

Occipital vein.