MAJOR ARTERIES SUPPLYING

HEAD AND NECK

Arteries supplying Head & Neck

The major arteries supplying head and neck derived from :

1. Common carotidi. internal carotid arteryii. External carotid artery

2. Subclavian arteries3. Vertebral artery

(branched from 1st part of subclavian a.)

Common Carotid Artery

• CCA runs upwards to the sup. border of thyroid cartilage at C3

• Bifurcates into external and internal carotid a.

Blood supply- Arteries

I The external carotid artery provides the major blood supply for the face

and mouth.

• The two major terminal branches of the external carotid artery are the

maxillary and the facial arteries.

Blood supply- Arteries

Blood supply- Arteries i. The maxillary artery is the large of the two terminal branches of the external carotid artery.• It arises behind the angle of the mandible and supplies the deep structures of the face.

Blood supply- ArteriesMajor branches of the maxillary artery:1. Infraorbital artery2. Posterior superior alveolar artery3. Inferior alveolar artery

1

2

3

Blood supply- Arteries

1. Infraorbital artery gives branches to anterior and middle superior alveolar

arteries. Their distribution to the maxillary incisors and cuspid teeth and to

the maxillary sinuses.

2. Posterior superior alveolar artery. Its distribution is to the maxillary molar

and premolar teeth and gingiva.

3. Inferior alveolar artery. It descends close to the medial surface of the

mandibular ramus to the mandibular foramen. Before entering the foramen, it

gives off the mylohyoid branch which supplies tissues in the floor of the

mouth.

Blood supply- Arteries

ii. The facial artery is the

other major branch of the external

carotid artery.

• It enters the face at the inferior

border of the mandible. It passes

forward and upward across the

cheek towards the angle of the

mouth.

• It continues upward along the

side of the nose and ends at the

medial canthus (inner corner) of

the eye.

Blood supply- Arteriesiii. The lingual artery also is a branch of the external carotid artery.• Its distribution is along the surface of the tongue.

Internal Carotid Artery• There are no branches of ICA in the neck;

passes superiorly in the neck within carotid sheath anterior to transverse process of upper cervical vertebrae and enters skull thru carotid canal

• At its root, ICA has a dilatation area a.k.a carotid sinus

• Inside skull, gives off to opthalmic a. (supplies optic nerve, eye, orbit an scalp)

Arterial supply of the brain

• Normally divided into anterior and posterior cerebral circulation

• Two main pair of artery supplying cerebral artery and cerebrum:

i. Int carotid a.ii. Vertebral a.

Meninges (singular Meninx)

• Def: are 3 membranous envelopes; Dura mater, Arachnoid and Pia Mater - surrounding brain and spinal cord

• Functions:1. Protecting the brain and spinal cord from

mechanical injury2. Providing B.S. to skull & hemispheres3. Providing a space for the flow of CSF

MeningesDura mater-most superior-toughest & inflexible-”Tough mother”

(latin name)Arachnoid -middle layer-Spider web-like of

B.S.Pia mater-innermost layer-”tender mother”

(latin name)