1. Lesson V: Major Blood Supply of the Head and Neck

2. Blood Supply to the Head and Neck
It is important to be able to locate the larger blood vessels of the head and neck because these vessels may become compromised by disease or during such dental procedures as local anesthetic injections.
Blood vessels may also spread infection in the head and neck.
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3. Blood Supply to the Head
Define Arteries:
Blood vessels carry blood from the heart to other parts of the body
Primarily carry oxygenated blood

4. Blood Supply to the Head
Define Veins:
A blood vessel that carries blood that is low in oxygen from the body back to the heart.

6. Major Arteries of the Face and Oral Cavity
The aorta ascends from the left ventricle of the heart.
The common carotid artery arises from the aorta and subdivides into the internal and external carotid arteries.
The internal carotid artery supplies blood to the brain and eyes.
The external carotid artery provides the major blood supply for the face and mouth.
When you take your pulse in your neck, you are checking the carotid artery.
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7. Branches of the External Carotid Artery
Facial Artery
Supplies blood to the skin and muscles of facial expression
Sends out branches to the upper and lower lips
Sends out branch to side of nose
Lingual Artery
Branches off the external carotid artery below the facial artery
Supplies blood to tongue and floor of the mouth
Maxillary Artery
There are about 15 branches to this artery
Supplies muscles of mastication
Supplies the teeth
Supplies oral and nasal cavities

8. Branches of the External Carotid Artery
Mental Artery
The mental branch escapes with the nerve at the mental foramen, supplies the chin. It supplies the buccal gingiva and mucosa of the lower lip
Buccal Branch – Runs downward and forward to supply the mucosa of the cheek and the buccal mucosa and gingiva of maxillary and mandibular posterior teeth.

9. Major veins Jugular Veins Three divisions of importance in dentistry
Internal: drains entire brain area
Corresponds to the common carotid artery
External: continues the descent down the neck
Terminates in the subclavian vein
Anterior: drains into the external jugular vein before it joins the subclavian veins

10. Major Veins Maxillary vein Collects blood from the pterygoid plexus
It merges with the temporal vein to drain and form the retromandibular vein
Plexis -network of nerves, blood vessels, or other vessels in the body

11. Major Veins Retromandibular Vein
Formed from merger of maxillary and temporal vein
It emerges from the parotid gland and moves downward
Retromandibular Vein

12. Important Terms related to blood supply
Define
Plexus
Hemorrhage
Hematoma
Embolus
Thrombus
Bacteremia
Aneurysm

13. Plexus- a large network of blood vessels

14. Hemorrhage; large amounts of blood escapes into surrounding tissues without clotting

15. Hematoma- small amounts of blood that escape into surrounding tissues causing bruising

16. Embolus- a foreign body (blood clot) that travels within the body and can constrict blood flow

17. Thrombus- a blood clot, a lesion attached to the inner vessel wall, can block partially or fully the flow of blood
Thrombus- a blood clot, a lesion attached to the inner vessel wall, can block partially or fully the flow of blood

18. Bacteremia- bacteria introduced into the blood stream

19. Aneurysm
An aneurysm occurs when part of a blood vessel (artery) or cardiac chamber swells, - either the blood vessel is damaged or there is a weakness in the wall of the blood vessel. As blood pressure builds up it balloons out at its weakest point. The swelling can be quite small or very large - when large it tends to extend along the blood vessel. As the aneurysm grows there is a greater risk of rupture - this can lead to severe hemorrhage, and other complications, including sudden death.