Head and Neck (Dr.

Yasser El-Bastawisy)

130

Internal Jugular Vein Beginning: at the jugular foramen as the continuation of sigmoid sinus. Course: descends in the neck within the carotid sheath lateral to the internal and common carotid arteries. Termination: ends behind the medial end of the clavicle by joining the subclavian vein to from the brachiocephalic vein. Tributaires: (1) Inferior petrosal sinus. (2) Common facial vein. (3) Lingual vein. (4) Pharyngeal veins. (5) Superior an middle thyroid veins. Relations: Accompanied by: In the upper part of the carotid sheath: internal carotid artery with the lower 4 cranial nerves inbetween. In the lower part of the carotid sheath: common carotid artery with the vagus nerve inbetween. Superficial relations: Crossed by two mucles: posterior belly of digastric and superior belly of omohyoid.

Head and Neck (Dr.Yasser El-Bastawisy)

131

Above the digastric: the following are superficial: 1. Styloid process and structures attached to it. 2. Parotid gland. At the posterior belly of the digastric: is crossed by 1. Stylohyoid muscle. 2. Posterior auricular artery. 3. Occipital artery. 4. Spinal accessory nerve. Between the digasteric and omohyoid: is related to: 1. Descends cevicalis. 2. Deep cervical lymph nodes. Below the omohyoid: sternomastoid, sternohyoid and sternothyroid muscles. Deep relations: from above downwards: 1. Transverse process of the atlas. 2. Levator scapulae. 3. Scalenus medius with loops of cervical plexus 4. Scalenus anterior and phrenic nerve. 5. Thoracic duct on the left side. 6. 1st part of subclavian artery and thyrocervical trunk.