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18.4: Arteries of the Head and Neck

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    Arteries of the Head and Neck

    Major arteries serving the head including R. anterior cerebral a. R. middle cerebral a. R. internal carotid a. R. posterior communicating a. R. posterior cerebral a. R. facial a. R. external carotid a. R. common carotid a. R. vertebral a. (shown passing through sverse foramina and foramen magnum) R. subclavian a. Brachiocephalic trunk Ascending aorta Aortic valve L anterior cerebral a. Anterior communicating a. Arterial circle of Willis Basilar common carotid aa. arch L. middle cerebral a. L. internal carotid a. L. posterior communicating a. L. posterior cerebral a. L facial a. L. extemal carotid a. L. common carotid a. L. vertebral a. L. subclavian a. Descending thoracic aorta

    Above: Diagram of the arteries serving the head and neck.

    Arteries of the head and neck branch from the common carotid arteries (right and left) and the vertebral arteries (right and left) that pass through the transverse foramina of the cervical vertebrae. The common carotid arteries branch into the internal carotid arteries and the external carotid arteries. The internal carotid arteries pass into the cranial cavity through the right and left foramen lacerum and then branch multiple times and rejoin to form an arterial circle at the inferior aspect of the brain called the circle of Willis. Branches of the external carotid arteries serve the face (fascial arteries) and superficial anatomy of the head including superficial temporal arteries and occipital arteries.

    arteries serving the head including basilar artery internal carotid artery (right) vertebral artery right subclavian superficial temporal artery (right) occipital artery external caroti artery (right) superior thyroid artery (right) common carotid artery (right) br achiocephal ic S labial facial artery (right)

    Above: Arteries of the right head and neck.

    Arteries of the inferior aspect of the brain including Anterior communicating artery Anterior cerebral artery Middle cerebral artery Internal carotid artery Posterior communicating artery Posterior cerebral artery Superior cerebellar arte Basilar artery Anterior inferior cerebellar artery Posterior inferior cerebellar artery Anterior spinal arte F IAngeriohs cereb la. Middle erebral a. ré@ral a Basilar a. Vertebrål åa.„ Anferiorr$ff Internal carotid Posterior communicating

    Above: (Left) Diagram and (right) cadaver image of the arteries of the brain, inferior view

    Clinical Application: Cerebrovascular Accident

    A cerebrovascular accident (CVA), or stroke, happens when blood flow is occluded to an area of the brain, causing the death of brain cells (neurons) in that area. There are two main types of CVAs: ischemic stroke and hemorrhagic stroke. In an ischemic stroke, a blood clot blocks the flow of blood in a vessel, preventing blood and oxygen from reaching the brain. In a hemorrhagic stroke, a blood vessel ruptures preventing blood and oxygen from getting to part of the brain. Symptoms vary on location of tissue death, but typical (sudden) symptoms can include dizziness, loss of balance and coordination, difficulty speaking, localized numbness/paralysis, and/or sudden headache accompanied by vomiting. Medical help should be sought right away if a stroke is assumed.

    This page titled 18.4: Arteries of the Head and Neck is shared under a CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 license and was authored, remixed, and/or curated by Rosanna Hartline.

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