30 Questions
What is the main muscle of the scalp?
Occipitofrontalis muscle
Which nerve supplies the motor innervations to the face?
Facial nerve
How many bones form the face?
14 bones
What is the nerve supply to the scalp?
Branches of trigeminal nerve and upper three cervical nerves
What is the function of the emissary veins?
To connect the venous sinuses inside the skull with the scalp
What is the outermost layer of the scalp?
Skin
How many layers does the scalp consist of?
5 layers
What does the connective tissue layer of the scalp contain?
Dense collagen fibers, blood vessels, and nerves
What is the function of the collagen fibers in the connective tissue layer?
To prevent blood vessels from contracting during injury
What is the function of the epicranial aponeurosis?
To connect the frontal and occipital bellies of the occipitofrontalis muscle
What is the function of the loose areolar tissue layer?
To allow the scalp to slide freely on the periosteum
What is the periosteum?
The outer surface of the skull
What is the action of the occipitofrontalis muscle?
Rises the eyebrow and wrinkles the forehead
What nerve supplies the auricular muscles?
Facial nerve
What is the origin of the superficial temporal artery?
External carotid artery
What is the course of the posterior auricular artery?
It curves postero-superiorly below and behind the root of the auricle
What accompanies the occipital artery in the scalp?
The greater occipital nerve
What is the distribution of the supraorbital artery?
It is distributed with the supraorbital nerve
What forms the facial vein?
The union of the supratrochlear and supraorbital veins
What is the origin of the retromandibular vein?
The union of the superficial temporal and maxillary veins
Which nerve arises from the ophthalmic division of the trigeminal nerve and supplies the upper eyelid?
Supraorbital nerve
Where does the occipital vein drain to?
The suboccipital plexus of veins in the suboccipital triangle
What is the course of the occipital artery?
It passes upward and backward through the occipital groove of the mastoid bone
Which nerve supplies the skin of the anterior part of the temple?
Zygomaticotemporal nerve
Which nerve emerges from the upper end of the parotid gland and supplies the upper part of the auricle?
Auriculotemporal nerve
Which nerve arises from C2 ventral rami and supplies the scalp behind and above the ear?
Lesser occipital nerve
Which nerve supplies the nape of the neck?
Third occipital nerve
Which nerve pierces the trapezius and the deep fascia 2.5 cm from the external occipital protuberance?
Greater occipital nerve
Which nerve supplies the scalp behind and above the ear?
Lesser occipital nerve
Which nerve arises from C2 and C3 ventral rami and supplies the skin of the postero-inferior part of the jaw?
Great auricular nerve
Study Notes
Scalp Anatomy
- The scalp consists of five layers: skin, connective tissue, epicranial aponeurosis, loose areolar tissue, and periosteum.
- The skin layer is thick and contains sweat, sebaceous glands, and hair follicles.
- The connective tissue layer is dense with collagen fibers and contains blood vessels and nerves.
- The epicranial aponeurosis is a flat membrane that connects the frontal and occipital bellies of the occipitofrontalis muscle.
- The loose areolar tissue is an avascular layer that allows the scalp to slide freely on the periosteum.
- The periosteum is the outermost layer, covering the outer surface of the skull and continuous through the sutures with the endosteal layer inside the cranium.
Muscles of the Scalp
- The main muscle of the scalp is the occipitofrontalis muscle, consisting of two pairs of bellies (occipital and frontal).
- The occipital bellies are shorter and narrower than the frontal bellies and are widely separated by the aponeurosis.
- The frontal bellies arise from the aponeurosis and insert into the skin of the eyebrows and nose, with no bony attachment.
- The auricular muscles consist of three muscles (superior, anterior, and posterior) supplied by the facial nerve.
Nerve Supply of the Scalp
- The scalp is supplied by the branches of the trigeminal nerve and the upper three cervical nerves.
- The branches of the trigeminal nerve include:
- Ophthalmic division: Supraorbital nerve and Supratrochlear nerve
- Maxillary division: Zygomaticotemporal nerve
- Mandibular division: Auriculotemporal nerve
- The upper three cervical nerves (C2, C3) supply the scalp posterior to the pinna of the ear.
Blood Supply of the Scalp
- The scalp is richly supplied by blood from the external and internal carotid arteries.
- Branches of the external carotid artery include:
- Superficial temporal artery
- Posterior auricular artery
- Occipital artery
- Branches of the internal carotid artery include:
- Supraorbital artery
- Supratrochlear artery
Venous Drainage of the Scalp
- The venous drainage of the scalp is through several veins, including:
- Supratrochlear and Supraorbital veins unite at the medial angle of the eye to form the facial vein.
- Retromandibular vein forms by the union of superficial temporal vein and maxillary vein.
- Posterior auricular vein unites with the posterior branch of the retromandibular vein to form the external jugular vein.
- Occipital vein runs with the occipital artery in the scalp, draining to the suboccipital plexus of veins in the suboccipital triangle.
- Emissary veins pierce the skull and connect this system of veins with the venous sinuses inside the skull.
Lymphatic Drainage of the Scalp
- The area in front of the ear drains into small parotid lymph nodes.
- The area behind the ear drains into nodes on the upper end of trapezius (occipital lymph nodes) and sternocleidomastoid muscles (retro-auricular nodes).
This quiz covers the normal anatomy of the scalp, its structure, blood supply, nerve supply, and importance in surgical practices.
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