Editing Neck (section)

== '''Arteries''' ==

=== '''Common     carotid artery''' ===

** Origin
*** Right - brachiocephalic       trunk bifurcates into common carotid and subclavian
*** Left - arises from the arch       of the aorta
** Course
*** Posterior to       sternoclavicular joint
*** Lies within the medial part       of the carotid sheath, with IJV lateral to it and vagus nerve deep       between the two vessels
*** Lateral to the larynx and       trachea
*** Sympathetic trunk is behind       the artery and outside the sheath
** Branches
*** None
*** Bifurcates into internal       and external carotids near the great horn of the hyoid bone (C4). A good       marker is the tendon joining the two bellies of omohyoid. Deep to the       anterior margin of SCM. The facial vein also usually crosses the       bifurcation.
** Surgical exposure
*** See 'carotid       endarterectomy'

=== '''External     carotid artery''' ===

** Course
*** Initially medial to ICA,       then slopes upward in front of ICA
*** Passes deep to posterior       belly of digastric and stylohyoid
*** Pierces parotid fascia to       enter the gland, where it divides into two terminal branches
** Branches ('some anatomists      like f***ing over poor medical students') '' - from caudal to cranial:''
*** One from deep/medial
**** Ascending pharyngeal
*** Three from the front
**** Superior thyroid
**** Lingual
**** Facial
*** Two from behind
**** Occipital - look for        hypoglossal nerve at this level
**** Posterior auricular
*** Terminal branches
**** Maxillary
**** Superficial temporal

=== '''Internal     carotid artery''' ===

** Course
*** At its commencement shows a       slight bulge (carotid sinus)
*** Lateral to ECA at origin
*** Slopes up posteriorly to       occupy a deeper level
*** Continues upwards within       the carotid sheath
*** Beside the pharynx to the       carotid canal in the base of skull
** Branches
*** No branches in the neck       (cervical segment C1)
*** Branches from the petrous       (C2 - ophthalmic artery), cavernous (C4), and ophthalmic (C6) segments
*** Terminates as the middle       and anterior cerebral arteries

=== '''Subclavian     artery''' ===

** Asymmetric paired arteries      that supply blood to the posterior cervical circulation, cerebellum,      posterior neck, upper limbs and the chest wall
** Origin
*** Right: terminal branch of       the brachiocephalic artery
*** Left: third branch of the       aortic arch
** Course
*** Exits the thorax via the       superior thoracic aperture between the anterior and middle scalene       muscles
*** Then passes between the       first rib and clavicle to continue as the axillary artery
** Parts
*** The vessel can be split       into three parts depending on the position in relation to scalenus       anterior
*** First part (origin to       medial border scalenus anterior)
**** Vertebral artery, coursing        cranially, arising from posterior/superior aspect
***** Ascends behind CCA for         3cm before entering the foramen of the transverse process of C7
***** Stellate ganglion tends         to lie behind it
**** Internal thoracic artery,        coursing caudally, from inferior surface
***** See separate topic under         'thoracic cavity'
**** Thyrocervical trunk, which        divides into four branches, from superior surface, opposite internal        thoracic origin
***** Inferior thyroid
***** Suprascapular
***** Transverse cervical
***** Ascending cervical
*** Second part (posterior to       scalenus anterior, as much as 2cm above clavicle)
**** Costocervical trunk, which        courses cranially before bifurcating into superior intercostal and deep        cervical
*** Third part (from the       lateral border of scalenus anterior to lateral border of first rib)
**** Dorsal scapular artery,        which courses posteriorly to join the scapular anastomosis
** Branches
*** VIT C, D
*** Very Indignant Tired       Individuals Sip Tasty Almond Coffee Served Double Daily (including       branches)
** Variants
*** Aberrant right subclavian -       arteria lusoria


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