--inferior opthalmic vein: ends in the superior opthalmic or cavernous sinus (communicates with pterygoid
plexus)
--central vein: dumps into cavernous sinus
since communication with facial vein, infections can enter these veins into the cavernous sinus.
BAD!!!! NOT GOOD!!!!! AVOID THAT!!
VERTEBRAL ARTERIES:
Branches off the first part of the subclavian: ascends through the transverse foramina of the cervical
vertebrae; enters the cerebellomedullary cistern at the level of the foramen magnum; runs anteriorly on the
anterolateral surface of the medulla; and joins with opposite one at caudal border of the pons to form
basilar
--supply spine (give off anterior spinal)
Basilar Artery: gives off in order:
posterior inferior cerbellar
anterior inferior cerebellar (which gives off Labyrinthine arteries)
superior cerebellar
terminal branch is posterior cerebral artery
--posterior cerebral: supplied inferior and occiptial pole or cerebrum (anastomoses with other cerebral
arteries)
--cerebellar: supply cerebellum!!!!
COMBINES with internal carotid to form Circle of Willis
Circle of Willis (aka the cerebral arterial circle): located at base of the brain in interpeduncular fossa;
encircles the optic chiasma, infundibulum, mamillary bodies
---gives off two branches central and cortical branches from cerebral branches: central go deep, cortical go
superficial!
--- consists of posterior cerebral connecting to internal carotid via posterior communicating branches
AND anterior cerebral arteries connected by an anterior communicating branch
-------- variety of clinical concerns with this circle: though the arteries anastomose, these connections are
not really sufficient to adequately compensate for the loss of blood flow due to blockage; thus, one will
suffer from a stroke: a variety of types thrombotic stroke: when embolus is dislodged and lodges into a
smaller artery (ex: here!); Hemorrhagic stroke often due to rupture of an aneurysm or arteriosclerotic
artery. (Aneurysms can occur here as shown by the radiology lecture!)
Veins:
Anterior jugular: smallest of the jugulars; arises near hyoid bone from confluence of the submandibular
veins (aka the submental venous plexus); dump into the subclavian (or external jugular); often connected to
one another by a transverse trunk, thereby forming a jugular venous arch!
--no valves!
Internal jugular: largest vein in the neck; commences at the jugular foramen in the posterior cranial fossa
where the sugmoid and inferior petrosal sinuses come together. Runs in the carotid sheath lateral to the
internal carotid, anterior to the vagus. Joins the subclavian to form the brachiocephalic vein (at junction, it
has a valve). RIGHT is usually bigger than left. Deep cervical lymph nodes run along its length usually
posterior and lateral
--tributaries: facial, lingual, pharyngeal, superior and middle thyroid, occipital veins
---------------connected to anterior jugular via communicating branch
--facial vein: venous drainage for the face: begins with union of the supraorbital/supratrochlear veins
****--connections with cavernous sinus via superior ophthalmic vein and with the pterygoid
plexus via the deep facial vein (since no valves, any infection can get from face to deep sinuses); LOOK
above at opthalmic veins!
--receives a branch from the retromandibular vein; dumps into the internal jugular
External jugular: formed by joining of the retromandibular and posterior auricular veins; joined later by
transverse cervical and suprascapular veins before it deposits into the subclavian (or internal jugular)
-- superficial temporal joins with maxillary to form the retromandibular vein
Inferior thyroid: drain into the brachiocephalic veins (often join and thus dump into only one of the
brachiocephalics)
DURAL SINUSES: drain the brain! Into internal jugular for the most part.
Superior Sagittal: within the falx cerebri: flows into transverse sinus (blood from cerebrum and returns
CSF via arachnoid villi)
Inferior Sagittal: falx cerebri along its inferior border (drains medial surfaces) flows into straight sinus
Straight: junction of falx cerebri and tentorium cerebelli; formed by union of inferior sagittal sinus and
great cerebral vein; empties into transverse sinus (opposite to that into which the superior sagittal sinus
dumps)
Transverse: at lateral margin of the tentorium (at posterolateral part of the petrous part of the temporal
bone), they become sigmoid sinuses; they receive superior petrosal sinuses
Sigmoid: direct continuation of transverse sinuses -- terminate into internal jugular veins where they join
with the inferior petrosal sinus
Occipital: between the transverse sinus and foramen magnum; drains iinto the sigmoid sinus near jugular
foramen; communicates with internal vertebral venous plexus
Cavernous: on each side of the sphenoid bone. Communicates with veins in the orbit (usually flow is
outwards, but because there are no valves, can come in.)
Superior Petrosal: drain cavernous sinus; dump into the transverse sinuses.
Basilar: commences near the clivus; connects inferior petrosal sinuses; communicates with the internal
vertebral venous plexus
-----basilar and occipital sinuses can drain into the internal vertebral venous plexus; hence there is
communication between the brain and the vertebrae (and thus the rest of the body); HERE is thus a means
of communicating infection/tumors/etc. from body to head/brain and vice versa..
-----emissary veins: connect intracranial venous sinuses with veins external to the cranium. Usually flow is
outwards (deep to superficial), but since they are valveless, infections can spread in this manner