Lec. 7-b. Blood vessels of the head and neck (venous drainage.)

Intro.

The venous drainage of the head and neck can be classified into 3 parts:

1. Drainage of the brain and meninges (through the Dural venous sinuses.)
2. Drainage of the face and scalp (through internal and external jugulars.)
3. Drainage of the neck (through anterior jugulars.) (Dural sinuses: venous sinuses in dura mater.)

Since the Dural venous sinus drains into the internal jugular, the main vessels that drain the head and neck are the internal, external, and anterior jugular veins.

Jugular veins.

External jugular vein.

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It drains the majority of the external face.

< Origin >

formed by the union of the posterior auricular and posterior retromandibular veins:

• The posterior auricular drains the scalp behind and above the ear.
• The retromandibular vein is formed of the maxillary and superficial temporal veins which drains the face.

< Course >

It descends down the neck in the superficial fascia, runs anteriorly and inferiorly to the sternocleidomastoid muscle.

< Tributaries > (branches but for veins)

• Posterior external jugular vein.
• Transverse cervical vein.
• Suprascapular vein.

< End >

Drain into subclavian vein.

Interior jugular vein.

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< Origin >

begins in the cranial cavity as a continuation of the sigmoid sinus.

< Course >

Exits the skull through the foramen magnum, and descends in the neck within the carotid sheath deep to the sternocleidomastoid.

< Tributaries > (branches but for veins.)

• Facial vein.
• Lingual vein.
• Occipital vein.
• Superior and middle thyroid veins.

< End >

Combines with the subclavian vein to form the brachiocephalic vein which drains into the SVC.

Anterior jugular veins.

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< Origin >

Paired veins on the anterior aspect of the neck.

< Course >

Descend down the midline of the neck and drain its anterior aspect.

< Tributaries >

• none.

< End >

Drain into subclavian.