Download ARTERIES OF THE HEAD AND NECK

ARTERIES OF THE HEAD AND NECK
The left common carotid arises from the arch of the aorta and the right comes from
the brachiocephalic trunk.
They travel through the neck in the carotid sheaths, medial to the internal jugular
vein, and end at the cranial border of the thyroid cartilage (C4 vertebral level) by
dividing into internal and external carotid arteries.
EXTERNAL CAROTID BRANCHES
6 branches and 2 terminal branches
3 from anterior – superior thyroid, lingual, facial
2 from posterior – occipital, posterior auricular
1 medial (deep) – ascending pharyngeal
1. Superior Thyroid Artery
i. arises from the external carotid artery just below the level of the
greater cornu of the hyoid bone
ii. supplies the thyroid gland and anastomoses with the corresponding
artery on the other side and with the inferior thyroid, a branch of the
thyrocervical trunk. It also supplies neck muscles in the region and gives
a superior laryngeal artery to the larynx through the thyrohyoid
membrane.
2. Ascending Pharyngeal Artery
i. the smallest branch of external carotid.
ii. ascends vertically between the internal carotid and the side of the
pharynx, to the under surface of the base of the skull, lying on the
Longus capitis.
iii. It is distributed to the pharynx, soft palate, auditory tube, palatine tonsil,
part of the middle ear and the meninges. It anastomoses with the
ascending cervical artery and other arteries supplying pharynx and
middle ear.
3. Lingual Artery
i. first runs obliquely upward and medialward to the greater cornu of the
hyoid bone; it then curves downward and forward,
ii. Crossed by the hypoglossal nerve, and passing beneath Digastric and
Stylohyoid it runs horizontally forward, deep to Hyoglossus, and
finally, ascending almost perpendicularly to the tongue
iii. gives rise to the dorsal, deep and sublingual arteries that anastomose
across the midline with corresponding vessels from the other side. The
dorsal lingual artery also supplies the tonsil, soft palate and epiglottis.
4. Facial Artery
i. courses deep to the intertendinous part of the digastric muscle,
stylohyoid muscle and the submandibular gland
ii. Submental branch given off in the submandibular fossa
iii. superficial at the anterior border of the masseter on the border of the
mandible and ends at the medial angle of the eye as the angular artery.
iv. Deep to all facial muscles - Platysma, Risorius, and Zygomaticus,
superficial to buccinator and may go through or above levator oris
superioris
v. Anastomoses of the facial artery are very numerous not only with the
vessel of the opposite side but also with the internal carotid and in the
neck with the lingual and ascending pharyngeal arteries. In the face, it
anastomoses with branches of the maxillary and superficial temporal
arteries.
vi. Branches in the neck - ascending palatine and tonsillar branches are
the main supply to the palatine tonsil. Other branches supply the soft
palate, and submandibular gland. Extensive anastomoses occur.
vii. Branches in the face include superior and inferior labial and lateral nasal
arteries that anastomose across the midline.
viii. The angular artery anastomoses with dorsal nasal branches of the
ophthalmic artery providing direct communication between the internal
and external carotid arteries.
ix. The anterior facial vein lies lateral to the artery, and takes a more direct
course across the face, where it is separated from the artery by a
considerable interval. In the neck it lies superficial to the artery.
5. Occipital Artery
i. emerges inferior to digastric opposite to facial artery
ii. gives off muscular branches and a descending branch which
anastomoses with branches of the thyrocervical trunk (transverse
cervical) and the costocervical trunk (deep cervical).These
anastomoses assist in establishing collateral circulation after occlusion of
the common carotid or subclavian arteries.
iii. Supplies Trapezius, SCM, Digastric, Stylohyoid, Splenius, and Longus
capitis
iv. Hypoglossal nerve hooks around its descending branch.
v. terminal branches of the occipital artery are distributed to the back of the
head: they are very tortuous, and lie between the integument and
Occipitalis, anastomosing with the artery of the opposite side and with
the posterior auricular and temporal arteries, and supplying the
Occipitalis, the integument, and pericranium.
vi. One of the terminal branches may give off a meningeal twig which
passes through the mastoid foramen (inconstant)
6. Posterior Auricular Artery
i. emerges above digastric and stylohyoid muscle, opposite the apex of the
styloid process.
ii. It ascends, under cover of the parotid gland, on the styloid process of the
temporal bone, to the groove between the cartilage of the ear and the
mastoid process, immediately above which it divides into its auricular
and occipital branches.
iii. Gives rise to the stylomastoid artery - enters the stylomastoid foramen
and supplies the tympanic cavity, the tympanic antrum and mastoid cells,
and the semicircular canals
iv. The Occipital Branch passes backward, over the
Sternocleidomastoideus, to the scalp above and behind the ear. It
supplies the Occipitalis and the scalp and anastomoses with the occipital
artery.
7. Superficial Temporal Artery
i. supplies the parotid gland and temporal region of the face and scalp.
ii. Branches
1. transverse facial - passes transversely across the side of the
face, between the parotid duct and the lower border of the
zygomatic arch
2. middle temporal - arises immediately above the zygomatic
arch, and, perforating the temporal fascia, gives branches to the
Temporalis, anastomosing with the deep temporal branches of
the internal maxillary. It occasionally gives off a
zygomaticoörbital branch, which runs along the upper border
of the zygomatic arch, between the two layers of the temporal
fascia, to the lateral angle of the orbit
3. anterior auricular
4. frontal and parietal (terminal branches)
8. Maxillary Artery is divided into three parts based on its location relative to
the lateral pterygoid muscle. The first part is lateral, the second part is either
behind or in front of, and the third part is medial to the muscle.
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Branches of the First part (5) pass through bony foramina.
o Deep Auricular Artery - supplies external auditory meatus
o Anterior Tympanic Artery - supplies tympanic cavity
o Inferior Alveolar Artery - supplies teeth and gums of lower jaw and
the chin through the mental branch. It also gives rise to the mylohyoid
artery.
o Middle Meningeal Artery - is the largest and most constant artery to
supply the dura.
o enters the skull through the foramen spinosum and etches its pattern
on the inside of the cranium. It supplies dura and bones of skull.
o Accessory Meningeal Branch - enters the skull through the foramen
ovale. This artery can come directly off the maxillary artery or it can
be a branch of the middle meningeal artery.
Branches of the Second part (6) to muscles in the infratemporal fossa.
o Deep Temporal Arteries (2)
o Pterygoid Arteries (2)
o Masseteric Artery
o Buccinator Artery
Branches of the Third part (6) in pterygopalatine fossa - pass through bony
foramina.
o Posterior superior alveolar artery passes laterally through
pterygomaxillary fissure to supply molars and premolars of the upper
jaw and maxillary sinus.
o Infraorbital artery passes through the inferior orbital fissure,
infraorbital groove, canal and foramen. It gives off the:
 Anterior superior alveolar artery to incisors and canine teeth of
the upper jaw and adjacent gums.
 Middle superior alveolar artery to premolars and gums.
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Facial Veins
Greater (descending) palatine artery descends through the Greater
(descending) palatine canal to the greater palatine foramen. It supplies
the hard palate, gums and lateral nasal wall. In the descending palatine
canal it gives off branches:
 Lesser palatine artery which arises in the Greater (descending)
palatine canal as a branch of the greater palatine artery and
descends through the lesser palatine foramen to supply the soft
palate and tonsil. It anastomoses with the ascending palatine
branch of the facial artery.
 Posterior inferior lateral nasal artery a small branch to the lower
lateral nasal wall.
Artery of the pterygoid canal goes through the canal and
anastomoses with a branch of the internal carotid.
Pharyngeal artery goes through pharyngeal canal and is distributed to
the upper pharynx.
Sphenopalatine artery enters the nasal cavity through the
sphenopalatine foramen. It divides into:
 Posterior superior lateral nasal branches - supply the upper
lateral nasal wall
 Posterior superior septal branches - supply the nasal septum. Its
nasopalatine branch passes through the incisive canal where it
anastomoses with the greater palatine artery in the mucosa on
the hard palate.
 Anterior facial vein joins with lingual vein and anterior division of retromandibular
vein (posterior facial) to form the common facial vein – drains into internal jugular
vein
 Maxillary vein and superficial temporal vein forms the retromandibular vein
 Retromandibular vein divides into anterior and posterior divisions
 Posterior division joins with posterior auricular vein to form external jugular vein