BLOOD SUPPLY OF HEAD AND

NECK
Dr.Ayesha khalid
Mphil Anatomy (UHS)
PGD (Radiology)
 Arterial Supply of the Scalp
The arteries lie in the superficial fascia.
• The supratrochlear and the supraorbital
arteries, branches of the ophthalmic artery,.
• The superficial temporal artery, the smaller
terminal branch of the external carotid artery.
• The posterior auricular artery, a branch of the
external carotid artery.
• The occipital artery, a branch of the external
carotid artery.
 Venous Drainage of the Scalp
• The supratrochlear and supraorbital veins unite at the
medial margin of the orbit to form the facial vein.

• The superficial temporal vein unites with the maxillary

vein in the substance of the parotid gland to form the
retromandibular vein .

• The posterior auricular vein unites with the posterior

division of the retromandibular vein, just below the
parotid gland, to form the external jugular vein .

• The occipital vein drains into the suboccipital venous

plexus, the plexus in turn drains into the vertebral
veins or the internal jugular vein.
• Arterial Supply of the Face
• The face receives a rich blood supply from two
main vessels: the facial and superficial temporal
arteries.
• The facial artery arises from the external carotid
artery ,it curves around the inferior margin of the
body of the mandible at the anterior border of
the masseter muscle. It is here that the pulse can
be easily felt . It runs upward in a tortuous course
toward the angle of the mouth and runs along
the side of the nose to the medial angle of the
eye, where it anastomoses with the terminal
branches of the ophthalmic artery .
 Branches
• The submental artery .It supplies the skin of the
chin and lower lip.

• The inferior labial artery arises near the angle of

the mouth. It runs medially in the lower lip.

• The superior labial artery arises near the angle of

the mouth. It runs medially in the upper lip.

• The lateral nasal artery arises from the facial

artery alongside the nose. It supplies the skin on
the side and dorsum of the nose.
• The superficial temporal artery, branch of the
external carotid artery, commences in the
parotid gland. It ascends in front of the auricle
to supply the scalp.

• The transverse facial artery, a branch of the

superficial temporal artery. It runs forward
across the cheek just above the parotid duct.

• The supraorbital and supratrochlear arteries,

branches of the ophthalmic artery, supply the
skin of the forehead .
 Arteries of the Head and Neck
• Common Carotid Artery
• The right common carotid artery arises from
the brachiocephalic artery behind the right
sternoclavicular joint.
• The left artery arises from the arch of the
aorta in the superior mediastinum .
• The common carotid artery runs upward
through the neck under cover of the
sternocleidomastoid muscle ,Here it divides
into the external and internal carotid arteries .
• External Carotid Artery
• It supplies structures in the neck, face, and
scalp; it also supplies the tongue and the
maxilla.
• The artery begins at the level of the upper
border of the thyroid cartilage and terminates
in the substance of the parotid gland behind
the neck of the mandible by dividing into the
superficial temporal and maxillary arteries.
 Branches of the External Carotid
Artery
• Superior thyroid artery
• Ascending pharyngeal artery
• Lingual artery
• Facial artery
• Occipital artery
• Posterior auricular artery
• Superficial temporal artery
• Maxillary artery
• Internal Carotid Artery
• It supplies the brain, the eye, the forehead,
and part of the nose. The artery ascends in
the neck embedded in the carotid sheath with
the internal jugular vein and vagus nerve.
• The internal carotid artery leaves the neck by
passing into the cranial cavity through the
carotid canal ,terminates by dividing into the
anterior and the middle cerebral arteries.
 Subclavian Arteries

• Right Subclavian Artery

• The right subclavian artery arises from the
brachiocephalic artery, At the outer border of
the first rib, it becomes the axillary artery.

• Left Subclavian Artery

• The left subclavian artery arises from the arch
of the aorta in the thorax.
• The Mouth Cavity
• The mouth extends from the lips to the
pharynx. The entrance into the pharynx, the
oropharyngeal isthmus, is formed on each
side by the palatoglossal fold .
• The mouth is divided into the vestibule and
the mouth cavity proper.
• Vestibule
• The vestibule lies between the lips and the
cheeks externally and the gums and the teeth
internally.

• The lateral wall of the vestibule is formed by the

cheek, which is made up by the buccinator
muscle and is lined with mucous membrane.

• The duct of the parotid salivary gland opens on a

small papilla into the vestibule opposite the
upper second molar tooth .
Mouth Proper
The mouth proper has a roof and a floor.

Roof of Mouth
The roof of the mouth is formed by the hard palate in front and the soft palate behind.

Floor of Mouth
The floor is formed largely by the anterior two thirds of the tongue.
A fold of mucous membrane called the frenulum of the tongue connects the
undersurface of the tongue in the midline to the floor of the mouth .
Lateral to the frenulum, the mucous membrane forms a fringed fold, the plica
fimbriata .
The submandibular duct of the submandibular gland opens onto the floor of
the mouth on the summit of a small papilla on either side of the frenulum of
the tongue .
The sublingual gland projects up into the mouth, producing a low fold of
mucous membrane, the sublingual fold. Numerous ducts of the gland open
on the summit of the fold.
 The Teeth

• Deciduous Teeth
• There are 20 deciduous teeth: four incisors, two canines, and four
molars in each jaw. They begin to erupt about 6 months after birth
and have all erupted by the end of 2 years. The teeth of the lower
jaw usually appear before those of the upper jaw.

• Permanent Teeth
• There are 32 permanent teeth: four incisors, two canines, four
premolars, and six molars in each jaw . They begin to erupt at 6
years of age. The last tooth to erupt is the third molar, which may
happen between the ages of 17 and 30. The teeth of the lower jaw
appear before those of the upper jaw.
• The Tongue
The tongue is a mass of striated muscle covered
with mucous membrane . The muscles attach
the tongue to the styloid process and the soft
palate above and to the mandible and the hyoid
bone below.

The tongue is divided into right and left halves

by a median fibrous septum.
• Mucous Membrane of the Tongue
• The mucous membrane of the upper surface
of the tongue can be divided into anterior and
posterior parts by a V-shaped sulcus, the
sulcus terminalis . The apex of the sulcus
projects backward and is marked by a small
pit, the foramen cecum. The sulcus serves to
divide the tongue into the anterior two thirds,
or oral part, and the posterior third, or
pharyngeal part. The foramen cecum is an
embryologic remnant and marks the site of
the upper end of the thyroglossal duct
• Three types of papillae are present on the upper
surface of the anterior two thirds of the tongue: the
filiform papillae, the fungiform papillae, and the vallate
papillae.
• The mucous membrane covering the posterior third of
the tongue is devoid of papillae but has an irregular
surface (Fi, caused by the presence of underlying
lymph nodules, the lingual tonsil.
• In the midline anteriorly, the undersurface of the
tongue is connected to the floor of the mouth by a fold
of mucous membrane, the frenulum of the tongue. On
the lateral side of the frenulum, the deep lingual vein
can be seen through the mucous membrane. Lateral to
the lingual vein, the mucous membrane forms a
fringed fold called the plica fimbriata.
• Blood Supply
• The lingual artery, the tonsillar branch of the
facial artery, and the ascending pharyngeal artery
supply the tongue. The veins drain into the
internal jugular vein.

• Lymph Drainage
• Tip: Submental lymph nodes
• Sides of the anterior two thirds: Submandibular
and deep cervical lymph nodes
• Posterior third: Deep cervical lymph nodes
• Sensory Innervation
• Anterior two thirds: Lingual nerve branch of
mandibular division of trigeminal nerve
(general sensation) and chorda tympani
branch of the facial nerve (taste)
• Posterior third: Glossopharyngeal nerve
(general sensation and taste)