Blood Vessels Of The Head And Neck

Question 1

Origin of the right common carotid artery

Answer 1

Arch of aorta > brachiocephalic trunk > right common carotid artery

Question 2

Origin of the left common carotid artery

Answer 2

Direct branch from the arch of aorta

Question 3

What do the common carotid arteries bifurcate into?

Answer 3

Internal + external carotid artery

Question 4

At what point do the common carotid arteries bifurcate?

Answer 4

C4

Question 5

What is the bifurcation of common carotid artery a common site for?

Answer 5

Atherosclerotic plaque due to it being a ‘site of turbulence’

Question 6

Where is the carotid sinus located?

Answer 6

Proximal point of the internal carotid artery with a bulbous appearance

Question 7

Where is the carotid body located?

Answer 7

In adventitia of carotid artery bifurcation

Question 8

Function of the carotid sinus

Answer 8

Monitors blood pressure using baroreceptors

Question 9

Function of carotid body

Answer 9

Monitors blood pO2 using chemoreceptors

Question 10

What is a carotid sinus massage?

Answer 10

stimulates the baroreceptors and slows heart rate

Question 11

What is a carotid ultrasound (doppler) scan used for?

Answer 11

• to visualise + measure blood flow
• identify stenosis

Question 12

How many branches does the external carotid artery have?

Answer 12

8

Question 13

Where does the external carotid artery terminate?

Answer 13

As the superficial temporal artery + maxillary artery

Question 14

What is arteritis?

Answer 14

Inflammatory of the walls of arteries

Question 15

What is temporal arteritis?
What does it have a high risk of?

Answer 15

• inflammation of arteries by temples
• losing vision

Question 16

Name three branches of the maxillary artery

Answer 16

• middle meingeal artery
• sphenopalatine artery
• greater palatine artery

Question 17

Where does the sphenopalatine artery supply?

Answer 17

Nasal cavity

Question 18

What are the branches of the external carotid artery

Answer 18

Some Anatomists Like Freaking Out Poor Medical Students

Superior thyroid artery
Ascending pharyngeal
Lingual
Facial
Occipital
Posterior auricular
Maxillary
Superficial temporal

Question 19

Role of the superior thyroid artery

Answer 19

Supplies thyroid gland

Question 20

Role of the lingual artery

Answer 20

Supplies tongue

Question 21

What branches of the external carotid artery supply the back of the scalp?

Answer 21

Occipital artery
Posterior auricular artery

Question 22

What is the route of the internal carotid artery?

Answer 22

• ascends neck in carotid sheath
• runs through petrous bone via carotid canal
• enters cavernous sinus + exits
• gives branches

Question 23

What are the branches of the internal carotid artery?

Answer 23

• ophthalmic artery
• middle cerebral artery
• anterior cerebral artery

Question 24

Where do the vertebral arteries branches from?

Answer 24

Subclavian artery

Question 25

What is the route of the vertebral arteries?

Answer 25

- ascends up neck in tranasversa foramina C6-C1 - pierces posterior atlanto-occipital membrane + enter intracranially via foramen magnum - right + left vertebral artery join to form basilar artery

Question 26

What are the boundaries of the carotid triangle?

Answer 26

- **superior**: posterior belly of digastric - **medial**: superior belly of omohyoid - **lateral**: sternocleidomastoid

Question 27

What group of muscles does digastric belong to?

Answer 27

Suprahyoid muscles

Question 28

What group of muscles of omohyoid belong to?

Answer 28

Infrahyoid muscles

Question 29

What is readily accessible through the carotid triangle?

Answer 29

Carotid sheath *e.g. surgical access*

Question 30

What is a carotid endartectomy?

Answer 30

- incision into neck in carotid triangle - common + internal carotid artery identified and incised - removal of atherosclerotic plaque

Question 31

What are the importances of the carotid triangle?/

Answer 31

- site of bifurcation of CCA - surgical access to carotid sheath - palpating of carotid puse - carotid sinus massage

Question 32

What does the external jugular vein drain into?

Answer 32

Subclavian vein

Question 33

What drains into the external jugular vein?

Answer 33

Veins draining scalp + deep face

Question 34

Location of the external jugular vein

Answer 34

- in superficial cervical fascia - superficial to SCM - in roof of posterior triangle

Question 35

Route of the internal jugular vein

Answer 35

Descends length of neck in carotid sheath deep to the SCM

Question 36

Route of the internal jugular vein to the heart

Answer 36

IJV > subclavian vein > brachiocephalic vein > superior vena cava > right atrium

Question 37

How would you measure jugular venous pressure using venous pulsation from IJV?

Answer 37

- lay patient at 30-45° - examination of venous pulsation from **right IJV** - vertical heigh of pulsations seen - indicates pressure in right atrium

Question 38

Outline accessing the internal jugular vein with a central line

Answer 38

- under ultrasound guidance - point of access between two heads of SCM - used for continuous monitoring of central venous pressure + drug infusions

Question 39

How can orbital infections spread intracranially?

Answer 39

- the **ophthalmic veins** drain the structures of the orbit + drain mostly via the facial vein - the ophthalmic veins also communicate with the **cavernous sinus** - as these veins are valveless, blood can pass in either direction > infection can spread

Question 40

How do infections of central face/nasal cavity spread intracranially?

Answer 40

- **facial vein** drains deep structure of the central face *e.g. nasal cavity* - communicate with **pterygoid venous plexus** + **cavernous sinus** - route for infection of central face/nasal cavity to spread intracranially

Question 41

What artery is formed by the convergence of the vertebral arteries?

Answer 41

Basilar artery

Question 42

Presentation of temporal arteritis

Answer 42

Blurry vision Tenderness over temple Headache Tongue +jaw claudation on mastication Diplopia Blindness

Question 43

Management of temporal cell arteritis

Answer 43

Steroids To reduce inflammation

Question 44

Why is the internal jugular vein used for central line access over the subclavian vein?

Answer 44

Higher risk of causing pneumothorax if using subclavian vein