2. Major Vessels of the Head & Neck
Dr. Zeenat Zaidi

3. Arteries of the Head & Neck
Common carotid arteries
Subclavian arteries

4. Common Carotid Artery Is a paired structure
The left and right common carotid arteries follow the same course with the exception of their origin.
Right common carotid artery originates in the neck from the brachio-cephalic artery behind the right sternoclavicular joint
Left common carotid artery arises in the superior mediastinum from the arch of the aorta * *

5. The common carotid artery runs upward through the neck under cover of the anterior border of the sternocleidomastoid muscle
At the upper border of the thyroid cartilage, (opposite C4 vertebra) it divides into the external and internal carotid arteries
The common carotid artery is embedded in a connective tissue sheath, called the carotid sheath, throughout its course and is closely related to the internal jugular vein and vagus nerve

6. Carotid Sinus
a localized dilatation at the point of division of the common carotid artery
has thinner tunica media of the sinus is than elsewhere, but relatively thick adventitia, and contains numerous nerve endings derived from the glossopharyngeal nerve
serves as a reflex pressoreceptor mechanism: A rise in blood pressure causes a slowing of the heart rate and vasodilatation of the arterioles
In cases of carotid sinus hypersensitivity, pressure on one or both carotid sinuses can cause excessive slowing of the heart rate, a fall in blood pressure, and cerebral ischemia with fainting
Carotid Body
a small structure that lies posterior to the point of bifurcation of the common carotid artery
is innervated by the glossopharyngeal nerve.
is a chemoreceptor, being sensitive to excess carbon dioxide and reduced oxygen tension in the blood. Such a stimulus reflexly produces a rise in blood pressure and heart rate and an increase in respiratory movements.

7. Relations
Anterolaterally: skin, fascia, sternocleidomastoid, sternohyoid, sternothyroid, superior belly of the omohyoid
Posteriorly: transverse processes of the lower four cervical vertebrae, prevertebral muscles, sympathetic trunk. In the lower part of the neck are the vertebral vessels.
Medially: larynx and pharynx and, below these, the trachea and esophagus. lobe of the thyroid gland.
Laterally: internal jugular vein and, posterolaterally, vagus nerve
Apart from the two terminal branches, the common carotid artery gives off no branches.

8. External Carotid Artery
One of the terminal branches of the common carotid artery
Supplies structures in the neck, face, and scalp; it also supplies the tongue and the maxilla.
Begins at the level of the upper border of the thyroid cartilage(C4)
Terminates in the substance of the parotid gland behind the neck of the mandible by dividing into the superficial temporal and maxillary arteries.
Close to its origin, the artery emerges from undercover of the sternocleidomastoid muscle, where its pulsations can be felt.
At first, lies medial to the internal carotid artery, later passes backward and lateral to it.
It is crossed by the posterior belly of the digastric and the stylohyoid

9. Relations Anterolaterally: Medially:
Overlapped at its beginning by the anterior border of the sternocleidomastoid.
Above this level, covered by skin and fascia. Crossed by hypoglossal nerve, posterior belly of the digastric and stylohyoid muscles.
Within the parotid gland, it is crossed by the facial nerve.
Internal jugular vein first lies lateral to the artery and then posterior to it.
Medially:
Wall of the pharynx and internal carotid artery.
Stylopharyngeus muscle, glossopharyngeal nerve, and pharyngeal branch of the vagus pass between the external and internal carotid arteries

10. Branches Superior thyroid artery:
curves downward to the upper pole of the thyroid gland
accompanied by the external laryngeal nerve
Ascending pharyngeal artery:
ascends along and supplies the pharyngeal wall
Lingual artery:
loops upward and forward and supplies the tongue

11. Facial artery
Loops upward close to the outer surface of the pharynx and the tonsil
Lies deep to the submandibular salivary gland and
Emerges and bends around the lower border of the mandible. It then ascends over the face close to the anterior border of the masseter muscle
Then ascends around the lateral margin of the mouth and terminates at the medial angle of the eye
Supplies tonsil, submandibular gland & muscles and skin of the face.
Facial artery

12. Posterior auricular artery:
Occipital artery:
Supplies the back of the scalp
Posterior auricular artery:
Supplies the auricle and the scalp
Superficial temporal artery:
Ascends over the zygomatic arch, (where it may be palpated just in front of the auricle).
Accompanied by the auriculotemporal nerve
supplies the scalp.
Maxillary artery:
Runs forward medial to the neck of the mandible and enters the pterygopalatine fossa of the skull.
Superficial
Temporal a.
Posterior
auricular a.
Occipital
artery

13. Branches of Maxillary Artery
Inferior alveolar artery
Middle meningeal artery
Small branches to the external auditory meatus and the tympanic membrane
Small muscular branches supply the muscles of mastication
boy

14. Internal Carotid Artery
Begins at the bifurcation of the common carotid artery at the level of the upper border of the thyroid cartilage
Supplies brain, eye, forehead, and part of nose.
Ascends in the neck embedded in the carotid sheath with the internal jugular vein and vagus nerve.
At first it lies superficially; it then passes deep to the parotid salivary gland
Leaves the neck by passing into the cranial cavity through the carotid canal in the petrous part of the temporal bone.
Passes upward and forward in the cavernous venous sinus
Leaves the sinus and passes upward again medial to the anterior clinoid process of the sphenoid bone.
Inclines backward, lateral to the optic chiasma, and terminates by dividing into the anterior and the middle cerebral arteries.
It gives off no branches in the neck (boy)

15. NOTE.
Atherosclerosis in the neck…. visual defect due to insufficient blood flow through central artery of retina.
Insufficient blood flow in middle cerebral artey… motor & sensory loss

16. Relations Anterolaterally:
Below the digastric : skin, fascia, anterior border of the sternomastoid, and hypoglossal nerve
Above the digastric: stylohyoid and stylopharyngeus muscles, glossopharyngeal nerve, pharyngeal branch of vagus, parotid gland, and external carotid artery
Posteriorly: sympathetic trunk , longus capitis muscle, and transverse processes of upper three cervical vertebrae
Medially: pharyngeal wall and superior laryngeal nerve
Laterally: internal jugular vein and vagus nerve

17. Subclavian Artery
Right Subclavian Artery
Arises from the brachiocephalic artery, behind the right sternoclavicular joint
Arches upward and laterally over the pleura and between the scalenus anterior and medius muscles.
At the outer border of the first rib, it becomes the axillary artery.
Left Subclavian Artery
Arises from the arch of the aorta in the thorax.
Ascends to the root of the neck and then arches laterally in a manner similar to that of the right subclavian artery
The scalenus anterior muscle passes anterior to the artery on each side and divides it into three parts.

18. First Part of the Subclavian Artery
Relations : Anteriorly : common carotid , vagus, symp.trunk (ansa subclavia), int.j.v. & left phrenic N Posteriorly : apex of lung & pleura, Rt.recurrent laryngeal N..
.Extends from the origin of the subclavian artery to the medial border of the scalenus anterior muscle
Branches
Vertebral artery
Thyrocervical trunk
Internal thoracic artery.

19. The vertebral artery:
Ascends in the neck through the foramina in the transverse processes of the upper six cervical vertebrae
Passes medially above the posterior arch of the atlas and then ascends through the foramen magnum into the skull
On reaching the anterior surface of the medulla oblongata of the brain at the level of the lower border of the pons, it joins the vessel of the opposite side to form the basilar artery.
Branches in the neck: Spinal and muscular arteries
Relations : Anteriorly : C.C.artery and crossed by thoracic duct Posteriorly :T.procees of 7thc.v. & stellate ganglion.

20. The thyrocervical trunk is a short trunk that gives off three terminal branches
The inferior thyroid artery ascends to the posterior surface of the thyroid gland, where it is closely related to the recurrent laryngeal nerve. It supplies the thyroid and the inferior parathyroid glands.
The superficial cervical artery is a small branch that crosses the brachial plexus
The suprascapular artery runs laterally over the brachial plexus and follows the suprascapular nerve onto the back of the scapula

21. The internal thoracic artery:
Descends into the thorax behind the first costal cartilage and in front of the pleura
Descends vertically one fingerbreadth lateral to the sternum
In the sixth intercostal space, it divides into the superior epigastric and the musculophrenic arteries.

22. Scalenus Anterior & Phrenic nerve :
Note, the roots of phrenic N. lie laterally to scalenus anterior, but phrenic N. lies anterior to scalenus anterior.

23. Second Part of the Subclavian Artery
Lies behind the scalenus anterior muscle
Relations : Anteriorly : scalenus ant Posteriorly : cervical pleura & apex of lung.
Branches
The costocervical trunk runs backward over the dome of the pleura and divides into the superior intercostal artery, which supplies the first and the second intercostal spaces, and the deep cervical artery, which supplies the deep muscles of the neck.

24. Third Part of the Subclavian Artery
Extends from the lateral border of the scalenus anterior muscle to the lateral border of the first rib, where it becomes the axillary artery.
Is closely related to the nerves of the brachial plexus.
Branches
Usually has no branches. Occasionally, superficial cervical and suprascapular arteries, or both arise from this part.

25. Veins of the Head & Neck May be divided into:
Veins of the brain, venous sinuses, diploic veins, and emissary veins
Veins of the scalp, face, and neck

26. Facial Vein
Formed at the medial angle of the eye by the union of the supraorbital and supratrochlear veins.
Connected through the ophthalmic veins with the cavernous sinus.
Descends down the face with the facial artery and passes around the lateral side of the mouth.
Crosses the mandible, is joined by the anterior division of the retromandibular vein, and drains into the internal jugular vein.

27. Superficial Temporal Vein
Formed on the side of the scalp
Follows the superficial temporal artery and the auriculotemporal nerve
Enters the parotid salivary gland, where it joins the maxillary vein to form the retromandibular vein.

28. Maxillary Vein
Formed in the infratemporal fossa from the pterygoid venous plexus
Joins the superficial temporal vein to form the retromandibular vein.
Retromandibular Vein
Formed by the union of the superficial temporal and the maxillary veins
On leaving the parotid salivary gland, divides into an anterior branch, which joins the facial vein, and a posterior branch, which joins the posterior auricular vein to form the external jugular vein.

29. External Jugular Vein
Formed behind the angle of the jaw by the union of the posterior auricular vein with the posterior division of the retromandibular vein
Passes straight down the neck in the superficial fascia, deep to platysma
Lies superficial to the sternocleidomastoid muscle throughout its course, crossing it diagonally as it descends.
Reaching the lower part of the neck, superior to the clavicle and immediately posterior to the sternocleidomastoid muscle, it pierces the investing layer of cervical fascia, and enters the subclavian vein behind the middle of the clavicle..

31. Tributaries
Posterior external jugular vein from the back of the scalp and neck
Transverse cervical vein from the skin and the fascia over the posterior triangle
Suprascapular vein from the back of the scapula

32. Anterior jugular vein
Begins below the chin from veins draining the lower lip and mental region
Descends in the front of the neck close to the midline
Just above the sternum, is joined to the opposite vein by the jugular arch.
Joins the external jugular vein deep to the sternocleidomastoid muscle

33. Internal Jugular Vein
A large vein that receives blood from the brain, face, and neck
Starts as a continuation of the sigmoid sinus and leaves the skull through the jugular foramen.
Descends through the neck in the carotid sheath lateral to the vagus nerve and the internal and common carotid arteries.
Ends by joining the subclavian vein behind the medial end of the clavicle to form the brachiocephalic vein
Throughout its course, it is closely related to the deep cervical lymph nodes.
Has a dilatation at its upper end called the superior bulb and another near its termination called the inferior bulb. Directly above the inferior bulb is a bicuspid valve.

35. Relations
Anterolaterally: skin, fascia, sternocleidomastoid, and parotid salivary gland.
Lower part is covered by sternothyroid, sternohyoid, and omohyoid muscles
Upper part crossed by stylohyoid, posterior belly of the digastric, and spinal part of accessory nerve.
The chain of deep cervical lymph nodes runs alongside the vein.
Posteriorly: transverse processes of the cervical vertebrae, levator scapulae, scalenus medius, scalenus anterior, cervical plexus, phrenic nerve, thyrocervical trunk, vertebral vein, and first part of the subclavian artery . On the left side it passes in front of the thoracic duct.
Medially: Above lie the internal carotid artery and 9th, 10th, 11th, and 12th cranial nerves. Below lie the common carotid artery and the vagus nerve

36. Tributaries Inferior petrosal sinus Facial vein Pharyngeal veins
Lingual vein
Superior thyroid vein
Middle thyroid vein

37. Subclavian Vein
Continuation of the axillary vein at the outer border of the first rib
Joins the internal jugular vein to form the brachiocephalic vein
Receives the external jugular vein
In addition, it receives the thoracic duct on the left side and the right lymphatic duct on the right.
Relations
Anteriorly: The clavicle
Posteriorly: The scalenus anterior muscle and the phrenic nerve
Inferiorly: The upper surface of the first rib

38. Internal Jugular Vein Catheterization
The internal jugular vein is remarkably constant in position.
In the posterior approach, the tip of the needle and the catheter are introduced into the vein about two fingerbreadths above the clavicle at the posterior border of the sternocleidomastoid muscle
In the anterior approach, with the patient's head turned to the opposite side, the triangle formed by the sternal and clavicular heads of the sternocleidomastoid muscle and the medial end of the clavicle are identified. A shallow skin depression usually overlies the triangle. The needle and catheter are inserted into the vein at the apex of the triangle in a caudal direction

39. NOTE. Structures superficial to sternocleidomastoid are :
skin, platysma, external j.v., great auricular N., transverse cervical N. & investing layer of deep cervical fascia.

40. Thank U & Good Luck