Anatomy of Arteries of Neck in a Nutshell

Anatomy of Arteries of Neck in a Nutshell

Sternocleidomastoid: divides the region into 2 triangles

• From sternum/clavicle to insert at mastoid bone
• Creates large posterior triangle
  • External jugular vein goes into the medial/inferior portion to join the internal jugular vein
  • Cranial nerve XI (accessory nerve) passes across the middle
• Anterior triangle
  • Anterior jugular vein drains this triangle
  • Venous drainage may be variable (pass deep/superficial to SCM)

​Arteries of the head/neck

• Common carotid artery
  • Bifurcation point at C3/4

• External carotid has branches:
  • Superior thyroid artery

• • • Supplies thyroid gland, SCM, infrahyoid muscles (strap muscles), part of larynx
    • Goes right past thyroid cartilage = laryngeal prominence (aka Adam’s apple)

• • • Courses anteriorly and inferiorly to supply upper portions of thyroid gland

• • • Thyrohyoid membrane:
      1. at C3, have hyoid bone with a membrane that extends between hyoid bone / thyroid cartilage called the Thyrohyoid membrane.
      2. Internal laryngeal artery
         1. branch of superior thyroid artery that penetrates this membrane
         2. goes to larynx

1. • Ascending pharyngeal artery

• • • Posteriorly directed branch
    • Goes deep into neck to supply pharynx

• • • Must penetrate the pretracheal fascia and buccopharyngeal fascia to supply the pharynx

1. • Lingual artery

1. 1. • Supplies the tongue and floor of the mouth
      • Behind the mandible

1. • Facial artery

• • • Supplies the face
    • Curves behind the mandible and goes into the submandibular triangle of anterior triangle

• • • Courses up the face to give off branches
      1. To lips via labial arteries (superior/inferior)
      2. Angular artery which goes toward angle of eyelids
  • Variation: facial and lingual arteries may come off of a common stem

1. • Occipital artery

1. 1. • Heads posteriorly toward scalp
      • Goes onto back of the head almost to the vertex of the head

• • • Supplies posterior scalp

1. • Posterior Auricular artery

1. 1. • Courses behind the earlobe
      • Goes behind mastoid process and behind the ear

1. • Maxillary artery

1. 1. • One of the terminal branches
      • Deep to the mandible

• • • Anteriorly directed, supplies maxilla and tissue around is

• • • Usually the largest branch

1. • Superficial temporal artery

1. 1. • The other terminal branch
      • Divides into several anteriorly / superiorly directed branches

• • • Able to palpate for a pulse

• • • Very tightly bound in fascia
    • Supplies parotid region (housing parotid gland) and temporal regions

• Internal carotid artery goes through neck (has no branches in the neck)

• • Goes deeper into neck
  • Winds its way through the neck and enters the skull to supply the brain by passing through carotid canal into base of brain
  • has no branches in the neck
  • supplies the brain (one of the major blood supplies to the brain)

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Carotid sheath:

• The more lateral vessel is the external jugular vein
• The carotid artery within the sheath is more medial
• The vagus nerve is found more posterior in the sheath
• The internal carotid and common carotid arteries are within the sheath
• The external carotid artery is outside of the carotid sheath.

Carotid body

• A small mass found in the carotid bifurcation
• Almost impossible to see in a cadaver due to thick fascia
• Has chemoreceptors
  • respond to either increased CO2 or decreased O2 by increasing respiration rate/depth and increased heart rate which increases blood pressure
  • mediated by glossopharyngeal nerve (CN IX)

Carotid sinus

• A dilation found in the proximal internal carotid artery (ICA) or in the distal common carotid artery (CCA)
• Not found in the external carotid
• Has baroreceptors
  • Respond to increased blood pressure by decreasing heart rate
  • Use feedback mechanisms via glossopharyngeal nerve (CN IX)

Also read:

1. Blood Vessels and Lymphatics of the Head and Neck @ TeachMeAnatomy
2. Practice Anatomy tests for free!
3. Best Anatomy books for Medical students
4. Best Anatomy websites & journals
5. Anatomy syllabus in (CBME) in India
6. Anatomy syllabus in Russia & Other CIS
7. Anatomy syllabus in China

Also Watch:

• Arteries of the neck @ The Noted Anatomist