Head & Neck Vasculature, Venous Drainage and Lymphatics

Vocabulary flashcards covering the arteries, veins, and lymphatic structures of the head and neck including origins, courses, branches, and clinical significance.

Subclavian artery

Major artery supplying upper limbs, neck, and brain; right arises from brachiocephalic trunk, left from aortic arch; becomes axillary artery lateral to anterior scalene.

Parts of subclavian artery

Divided by anterior scalene: 1st part (medial), 2nd part (posterior), 3rd part (lateral).

Internal thoracic artery

Branch of 1st part of subclavian; descends along sternum, gives anterior intercostal arteries; supplies anterior thoracic wall and breasts.

Vertebral artery

Branch of 1st part of subclavian; ascends C6–C1 transverse foramina, enters foramen magnum; supplies brain and spinal cord.

Thyrocervical trunk

Anterosuperior branch of 1st part of subclavian; immediately divides into inferior thyroid, ascending cervical, suprascapular, and cervicodorsal arteries.

Inferior thyroid artery

Terminal branch of thyrocervical trunk; primary visceral artery of neck supplying thyroid, parathyroids, larynx, trachea, esophagus.

Ascending cervical artery

Branch of inferior thyroid; ascends anterior to cervical transverse processes; supplies lateral muscles of upper neck.

Suprascapular artery

Branch of thyrocervical trunk; passes posterior to clavicle to scapula; supplies posterior scapular muscles.

Cervicodorsal (transverse cervical) trunk

Branch of thyrocervical trunk; crosses anterior scalene; supplies brachial plexus vasa nervorum and scapular muscles via superficial cervical and dorsal scapular branches.

Costocervical trunk

Posterior branch of 2nd part of subclavian; divides into superior intercostal and deep cervical arteries.

Superior (supreme) intercostal artery

Branch of costocervical trunk; supplies first two posterior intercostal spaces.

Deep cervical artery

Branch of costocervical trunk; supplies deep posterior neck muscles.

Common carotid artery

Right from brachiocephalic trunk, left from aortic arch; ascends in carotid sheath to superior border of thyroid cartilage where it divides.

Internal carotid artery

Direct continuation of common carotid; no cervical branches; enters skull via carotid canal to supply brain and orbit (anterior cerebral, middle cerebral, ophthalmic branches).

Ophthalmic artery

Branch of internal carotid; passes through optic canal; supplies eyeball and extra-ocular structures.

External carotid artery (ECA)

Branch of common carotid supplying most external head and neck structures; terminates as maxillary and superficial temporal arteries.

Superior thyroid artery

Anterior ECA branch; runs to thyroid gland; gives superior laryngeal artery to larynx.

Lingual artery

Anterior ECA branch; deep to hyoglossus; supplies tongue via deep lingual and sublingual branches.

Facial artery

Anterior ECA branch; courses over mandible to face; supplies submandibular gland and facial structures; gives ascending palatine, tonsillar, submental branches.

Ascending pharyngeal artery

Sole medial ECA branch; ascends deep to internal carotid; supplies pharynx, prevertebral muscles, middle ear, meninges.

Occipital artery

Posterior ECA branch; ascends with digastric posterior belly to posterior scalp.

Posterior auricular artery

Posterior ECA branch; ascends between external acoustic meatus & mastoid; supplies parotid gland, auricle, temporal bone structures.

Superficial temporal artery

Terminal ECA branch; emerges between TMJ and auricle; supplies frontolateral scalp; gives transverse facial artery.

Transverse facial artery

Branch of superficial temporal; passes through parotid over masseter; supplies parotid gland, duct, masseter, facial skin; anastomoses with facial artery.

Maxillary artery

Terminal ECA branch; courses through infratemporal & pterygopalatine fossae; supplies deep face, jaws, nasal cavity, meninges.

Middle meningeal artery

Maxillary branch in infratemporal fossa; enters cranial cavity via foramen spinosum; supplies dura and calvaria; vulnerable at pterion.

Muscular (pterygoid) branches

Maxillary branches to muscles of mastication and buccinator.

Inferior alveolar artery

Maxillary branch; enters mandibular foramen, exits mental foramen as mental artery; supplies mandible, teeth, chin, mylohyoid.

Posterior superior alveolar artery

Maxillary branch; descends on maxilla; supplies maxillary molars & premolars, sinus mucosa, gingiva.

Infraorbital artery

Maxillary branch in pterygopalatine fossa; enters orbit via inferior orbital fissure, emerges infraorbital foramen; supplies inferior orbit and face; gives anterior & middle superior alveolar arteries to upper incisors/canines.

Descending palatine artery

Maxillary branch; descends to palate, dividing into greater and lesser palatine arteries to hard & soft palate mucosa and glands.

Sphenopalatine artery

Terminal branch of maxillary; passes through sphenopalatine foramen; major blood supply to nasal cavity and paranasal sinuses.

Supraorbital & supratrochlear veins

Anterior scalp veins draining to facial vein or cavernous sinus via ophthalmic veins.

Superficial temporal vein

Drains scalp anterior to auricle; joins maxillary vein to form retromandibular vein.

Posterior auricular vein

Drains scalp posterior to auricle; joins posterior branch of retromandibular to form external jugular vein.

Occipital vein

Drains posterior scalp; empties into internal jugular vein.

Facial vein

Begins at medial orbit (ophthalmic veins); descends to join anterior retromandibular vein then IJV; facial infections can spread to cavernous sinus via superior ophthalmic vein.

Anterior jugular vein

Starts at hyoid from submandibular tributaries; descends anterior neck, forms jugular venous arch, empties into EJV or subclavian.

External jugular vein (EJV)

Formed by posterior auricular + posterior retromandibular veins; descends superficial to SCM; drains into subclavian vein.

Retromandibular vein

Formed by superficial temporal and maxillary veins within parotid gland; divides into anterior branch (joins facial) and posterior branch (joins posterior auricular).

Pterygoid venous plexus

Network around pterygoid muscles; connects to facial vein anteriorly, cavernous sinus superiorly, and EJV via maxillary vein; potential infection pathway.

Internal jugular vein (IJV)

Originates at jugular foramen; descends in carotid sheath; joins subclavian to form brachiocephalic vein; has superior and inferior bulbs, latter with bicuspid valve.

Pharyngeal veins

Drain pharyngeal venous plexus into IJV posterior to ramus of mandible.

Lingual veins

Drain tongue; empty into IJV near angle of mandible (often via common trunk with facial vein).

Superior thyroid vein

Drains superior thyroid; empties into IJV just below angle of mandible.

Middle thyroid vein

Drains mid-portion of thyroid; enters lower IJV.

Inferior thyroid veins

Drain inferior thyroid; descend to brachiocephalic veins (not IJV).

Superficial lymphatic vessels

Accompany veins; drain to superficial ring of lymph nodes then to deep cervical nodes.

Deep cervical lymph nodes

Chain along IJV receiving all head & neck lymph; efferents form jugular lymphatic trunk.

Occipital lymph nodes

Superficial nodes over superior nuchal line; drain posterior scalp.

Mastoid (posterior auricular) nodes

Located posterior to external acoustic meatus; drain posterolateral scalp and auricle.

Superficial parotid nodes

Anterior to external auditory meatus; drain lateral face and scalp.

Submandibular lymph nodes

In submandibular triangle; drain upper lip, lateral tongue, cheek, gingiva, nasal cavity, submental nodes.

Submental lymph nodes

In submental triangle; drain central lower lip, floor of mouth, apex of tongue, mandibular incisors.

Jugulodigastric (tonsillar) node

Superior deep cervical node inferior to posterior belly of digastric at IJV; first node to enlarge with tonsillar or pharyngeal infection.

Juguloomohyoid node

Deep cervical node at omohyoid crossing of IJV; sentinel for tongue carcinoma.

Jugular lymphatic trunk

Efferent vessel of deep cervical nodes; drains into thoracic duct (left) or IJV/brachiocephalic vein (right).