8). Q&A: Head and Neck Blood Supply and Lymphatics Flashcards

Comprehensive practice flashcards covering head and neck blood supply, cerebral circulation, venous drainage, and lymphatic system based on lecture materials.

What major arteries supply blood to the head and neck?

Common Carotid and Subclavian Arteries

What are the three direct branches of the aorta that supply the head, neck, and upper limbs?

Right Brachiocephalic Artery, Left Common Carotid, and Left Subclavian Arteries

At what anatomical level does the common carotid artery divide into the internal and external carotid arteries?

At about the level of the superior border of the thyroid cartilage / level of the larynx

What is unique about the branching of the common carotid artery along its neck course prior to its bifurcation?

It is branchless as it travels superiorly along the neck, lateral to the trachea and larynx

Which subdivision of the anterior triangle of the neck contains the bifurcation of the common carotid artery?

Carotid Triangle

What sensory receptors are located in the carotid sinus and which cranial nerve carries their signals?

Baroreceptors that measure blood pressure; signals travel through Cranial nerve 9 (Glossopharyngeal nerve)

What sensory receptors are located in the carotid body and which cranial nerves carry their signals?

Chemoreceptors that detect blood chemistry; signals travel through Cranial nerves 9 and 10

What is the name of the dilated structure located at the bifurcation of the common carotid artery?

Carotid Sinus

What type of receptors are housed within the carotid body?

Chemoreceptors

What four positional groups are used to categorize the branches of the External Carotid Artery?

Anterior, Medial, Posterior, and Terminal

What mnemonic device is used to remember the 8 main branches of the External Carotid Artery?

Some Angry Lady Figured Out PMS (or Some Anatomists Like Freaking Out Poor Medical Students)

What general anatomical region is supplied by the External Carotid Artery?

Extracranial tissue of the head and neck, including the oral cavity

What ratio formula represents the positional distribution of the ECA branches according to the SALFOPMS mnemonic?

1-1/2-2/1-1

Which ECA branches belong to the Anterior positional group?

Superior thyroid artery, Lingual artery, and Facial artery

Which ECA branch belongs to the Medial positional group?

Ascending pharyngeal artery

What are the four branches of the Superior Thyroid Artery?

Infrahyoid artery, Sternocleidomastoid branch, Superior laryngeal artery, and Cricothyroid branch

Which branch of the External Carotid Artery gives rise to the Superior Laryngeal Artery?

Superior Thyroid Artery

Which muscle is supplied by the sternocleidomastoid branch of the superior thyroid artery?

Sternocleidomastoid muscle

What are the four main branches of the Lingual Artery?

Dorsal Lingual, Deep Lingual, Sublingual, and Suprahmoid branches

Which branch of the lingual artery specifically supplies the floor of the mouth?

Sublingual artery

Which branch of the lingual artery supplies the suprahyoid muscles?

Suprahmoid branches

What is the positional relationship between the lingual artery and the hyoid bone?

The lingual artery is superior to the hyoid bone

Where does the facial artery terminate?

At the medial canthus

Describe the course and appearance of the Facial Artery.

It runs anteriorly and superiorly near the angle of the mouth and along the side of the nose, and is very tortuous

What are the six major branches of the Facial Artery?

Ascending palatine, Glandular branches, Submental, Inferior labial, Superior labial, and Angular

What is the terminal branch of the Facial Artery called?

Angular artery

Where does the Ascending Pharyngeal Artery arise relative to the External Carotid Artery?

Close to the origin of the external carotid artery

What two primary branch categories arise from the Ascending Pharyngeal Artery?

Pharyngeal branch and Meningeal branch

What are the two posterior branches of the External Carotid Artery?

Occipital artery and Posterior Auricular artery

What structures are supplied by the posterior auricular artery branches?

Internal ear (via auricular branch) and mastoid air cells (via stylomastoid artery)

Which posterior branch of the ECA gives rise to muscular, sternocleidomastoid, auricular, and meningeal branches?

Occipital artery

What are the two terminal branches of the External Carotid Artery?

Superficial Temporal Artery and Maxillary Artery

Which terminal branch of the External Carotid Artery is the larger branch?

Maxillary Artery

What are the four branches of the Superficial Temporal Artery?

Transverse facial, middle temporal, frontal, and parietal

What general anatomical structures are supplied by the Maxillary Artery?

Upper and lower jaws, muscles of mastication, palate, and nose

What is the first part of the Maxillary Artery called, and where does it begin?

Mandibular part; begins at the neck of the mandibular condyle within the parotid salivary gland

Why is the second part of the Maxillary Artery called the pterygoid part?

Because it travels between the two heads of the lateral pterygoid muscle

What is the third part of the Maxillary Artery called, and where is it located?

Pterygopalatine part; located in the pterygopalatine fossa deep and inferior to the eye

What 7 branches arise from the third part of the Maxillary Artery?

Posterior Superior Alveolar Artery, Descending Palatine Artery, Greater Palatine Artery, Lesser Palatine Artery, Infraorbital Artery, Anterior Superior Alveolar Artery, and Sphenopalatine Artery

Through what anatomical openings does the Posterior Superior Alveolar Artery enter the maxilla?

Posterior superior alveolar foramina on the maxillary tuberosity

What teeth are supplied by dental and alveolar branches of the Posterior Superior Alveolar Artery?

Posterior maxillary teeth

What structure formed by the anterior and posterior superior alveolar arteries may supply the middle maxillary teeth?

An arterial plexus

From which artery does the Anterior Superior Alveolar Artery originate?

Infraorbital Artery

What two branches stem from the Descending Palatine Artery to supply the hard and soft palate?

Greater Palatine Artery and Lesser Palatine Artery

Through which foramen does the Greater Palatine Artery pass?

Greater palatine foramen

Through which foramen does the Lesser Palatine Artery pass?

Lesser palatine foramen

Which nerve traverses the incisive fossa alongside palate blood vessels?

Nasopalatine nerve

Which two arterial systems supply blood to the brain?

Internal Carotid Arteries and Vertebral Arteries

Which artery is formed by the union of the right and left vertebral arteries?

Basilar Artery

Which vessel directly gives rise to the posterior cerebral arteries?

Basilar Artery

What is the primary function of the Circle of Willis?

Provides an arterial supply circle at the base of the brain

Which two major arteries are joined by the Posterior Communicating Artery?

Internal Carotid Artery and Posterior Cerebral Artery

Which arteries are joined together by the Anterior Communicating Artery?

Anterior Cerebral Arteries

Which three arteries constitute the ANTERIOR CIRCULATION of the brain?

Internal carotid artery, middle cerebral artery, and anterior cerebral artery

Which three arteries constitute the POSTERIOR CIRCULATION of the brain?

Vertebral artery, basilar artery, and posterior cerebral artery

What are the three collateral branches of the Internal Carotid Artery?

Ophthalmic Artery, Posterior Communicating Artery, and Anterior Choroidal Artery

What are the two terminal branches of the Internal Carotid Artery?

Middle Cerebral Artery and Anterior Cerebral Artery

From which major trunk does the Vertebral Artery branch off?

Subclavian Artery

Name the three main branches arising directly from the Vertebral Artery before it merges.

Anterior Spinal Artery, Posterior Spinal Arteries, and Posterior Inferior Cerebellar Artery (PICA)

What four branches arise from the Basilar Artery before its bifurcation?

Anterior Inferior Cerebellar Artery (AICA), Labyrinthine Artery, Pontine Artery, and Superior Cerebellar Artery

What anatomical route does the Anterior Cerebral Artery follow, and what regions does it supply?

Travels around the corpus callosum; supplies most cortex on the anterior medial side of the brain including somatosensory and motor cortex

Where is the Middle Cerebral Artery located within the brain fissures?

In the depth of the Sylvian (lateral cerebral) fissure

What regions are supplied by the superior and inferior divisions of the Middle Cerebral Artery?

Superior division: cortex above lateral fissure (most lateral aspects of frontal lobe); Inferior division: cortical areas under lateral fissure (lateral temporal lobe, some parietal lobe)

What deep subcortical structures are supplied by the lenticulostriate branches of the MCA?

Basal ganglia and internal capsule

What brain structures receive blood from the branches of the Posterior Cerebral Artery?

Inferior and medial temporal lobes, medial occipital lobe, rostral midbrain, and caudal diencephalon

What clinical deficits result from occlusion of the Posterior Cerebral Artery at its origin?

Visual field losses and deficits referable to the midbrain and diencephalon

Which major vein drains blood from the brain as well as most other tissues of the head and neck?

Internal Jugular Vein

What tissue region is drained by the External Jugular Vein?

A small part of the extracranial tissue

What are the five main components of the venous drainage system of the head and neck?

Facial Vein, Retromandibular Vein, Venous Sinuses, Internal Jugular Vein, and External Jugular Vein

What functional protection does the Pterygoid Plexus of Veins offer during mastication?

Protects the maxillary artery from being compressed during mastication by filling or emptying

Where is the Pterygoid Plexus of Veins located and what arterial segment does it surround?

Located around the pterygoid muscles; surrounds the second (pterygoid) part of the maxillary artery

With which two major facial veins does the Pterygoid Plexus anastomose?

Facial vein and Retromandibular vein

Why is retrograde flow of blood and infection possible in the dangerous area of the face?

Because blood flow in all tributaries and communications is reversible due to the absence of valves

Spread of infection from the dangerous triangle of the face can lead to thrombosis of which intracranial structure?

Cavernous sinus

Through which two routes does the dangerous area of the face communicate with the cavernous sinus?

1. Superior ophthalmic vein; 2. Deep facial veins, pterygoid plexus of veins, and emissary veins

How are the lymph nodes of the head and neck arranged anatomically?

As a regional collar extending from below the chin to the back of the head, and as a deep vertical terminal group embedded in the carotid sheath

Where are the Deep Cervical Nodes located?

In a vertical chain along the course of the internal jugular vein within the carotid sheath

What lymphatic vessel is formed by the union of efferent lymph vessels from the deep cervical nodes?

Jugular trunk

Where does the Right Lymphatic Duct empty into the venous system?

At the junction of the right internal jugular and right subclavian veins

Where does the Thoracic Duct empty into the venous system, and what is its most inferior dilated part called?

Empties at the junction of the left internal jugular and left subclavian veins; its most inferior part is the Cisterna Chyli