Arterial and Venous Supply of Head and Neck

The main artery supplying the face, it branches into numerous smaller arteries supplying various structures.

This artery supplies the tongue.

This artery branches from the external carotid artery and supplies the cheek, lips, and nose.

This artery supplies the deep tissues of the face, including the teeth and nasal cavity.

This vein drains blood from the superficial structures of the face, including the cheeks, lips, and eyelids.

The superior and inferior ophthalmic veins drain the orbit, ethmoid sinus, and forehead regions.

The infratemporal fossa houses the medial and lateral pterygoid muscles, CN Vc, chorda tympani (CN VII), lesser petrosal nerve (CN IX), maxillary artery, and pterygoid plexus of veins.

The pterygopalatine fossa contains nerves that synapse with the pterygopalatine ganglion, such as the greater and lesser petrosal nerves, and nerves that don't synapse with the ganglion, such as the deep petrosal nerve.

The submandibular ganglion is responsible for parasympathetic innervation to the submandibular and sublingual salivary glands. Along with the CN VII, it receives fibers from the chorda tympani nerve via the lingual nerve.

The submandibular and sublingual salivary glands receive their parasympathetic innervation through the following pathway: CN VII → chorda tympani (VII) → lingual (Vc) → submandibular ganglion → gland.

The carotid triangle of the neck contains nerves (CN X, XI, XII and ansa cervicalis), the bifurcation of the common carotid artery, and tributaries of the internal jugular vein.

The submental triangle contains lymph nodes and superficial veins.

The supraclavicular triangle contains the scalene muscles, trunks of the brachial plexus, phrenic nerves, and subclavian vessels.

The external carotid artery (ECA) is the main blood supply for the face, and it branches into several smaller arteries that supply different structures.

The Facial artery supplies superficial areas like the cheeks, lips, nose, and the corner of the eye. It's a branch of the external carotid artery.

The Maxillary artery is deeper in the face supplying the teeth, nasal cavity, and inner cheeks. It's also a branch of the external carotid artery.

The Facial vein is the main superficial vein draining the face. It collects blood from the cheeks, lips, eyelids, and forehead. It connects to both Internal and External jugular veins.

The Pterygoid plexus is a deep network of veins in the face. It drains blood from the deep face, maxillary region, and pharynx.

The ophthalmic veins drain the orbit, ethmoid sinus, and forehead. They are composed of the superior and inferior ophthalmic veins.

The temporal fossa houses the temporalis muscle, CN Vc, deep temporal nerves and the deep temporal artery. It also contains branches of the maxillary artery and the zygomaticotemporal nerve (CN Vb).

The infratemporal fossa houses the medial and lateral pterygoid muscles, CN Vc, chorda tympani (CN VII), lesser petrosal nerve (CN IX), maxillary artery, and pterygoid plexus of veins.

The pterygopalatine fossa contains nerves that synapse with the pterygopalatine ganglion (greater and lesser petrosal nerves) and nerves that don't synapse with the ganglion (deep petrosal nerve).

The ciliary ganglion receives parasympathetic innervation from CN III and innervates the sphincter pupillae and ciliary muscles. The pterygopalatine ganglion receives parasympathetic fibres from CN VII and it innervates the lacrimal gland, nasal, and paranasal mucosa. The submandibular ganglion receives parasympathetic fibres from CN VII and it innervates the submandibular and sublingual glands. The otic ganglion receives parasympathetic fibres from CN IX and it innervates the parotid gland.

The parotid gland receives its parasympathetic innervation through the following pathway: CN IX → lesser petrosal (IX) → otic ganglion → auriculotemporal (CN Vc) → parotid gland. Sensory innervation is via the auriculotemporal nerve (CN Vc).

The submandibular and sublingual salivary glands receive their parasympathetic innervation through the following pathway: CN VII → chorda tympani (VII) → lingual (CN Vc) → submandibular ganglion → gland. Sensory innervation is via the lingual nerve (CN Vc).

The submental triangle contains lymph nodes and superficial veins. The submandibular triangle contains the submandibular gland, CN XII, facial artery and vein, lymph nodes. The carotid triangle contains nerves (CN X, XI, XII and ansa cervicalis), the bifurcation of the common carotid artery, and tributaries of the internal jugular vein. The muscular triangle contains infrahyoid muscles, thyroid and parathyroid glands, pharynx and larynx. The supraclavicular triangle contains scalene muscles, trunks of the brachial plexus, phrenic nerves, and subclavian vessels. The occipital triangle contains branches of the cervical plexus, CN XI, and lymph nodes.