Which vessel drains the scalp

The mobility and flexibility of the loose areolar connective tissue allow smooth separation between the upper layers and pericranium.

Due to its ability to be easily dissected, this layer of the scalp serves as an essential plane of entry in craniofacial surgery. It provides the ability for the creation of scalp flaps that can preserve vital neurovascular structures in superficial layers of the scalp. The loose areolar connective tissue is a harbor for a potential infection that can spread to the meninges. Pus and blood can build up in the flexible tissue, and provide a route for meningitis.

Tearing of the emissary veins in the loose areolar connective tissue layer causes the build-up of blood that gets trapped between the tense tissue of the galea aponeurotica and the pericranium. This condition is called a subgaleal hematoma SGH. Although it can present in adults, SGH usually occurs in neonates after delivery with vacuum assistance. It can also present in pre-school aged children with innocent head trauma i. This extensive network of anastomoses, especially the anastomosis of the superficial temporal vein with the posterior auricular and occipital veins, sets up the potential for extensive bleeding with any deep laceration to the scalp.

This bleeding also becomes exacerbated by the fact that the dense connective tissue layer firmly adheres to the blood vessels of the scalp, preventing vasoconstriction. Giant Cell Arteritis is a medium to large artery vasculitis that mostly affects patients above the age of Some of its symptoms include pain in the temple region, headache, flu-like symptoms, jaw claudication, and can be associated with polymyalgia rheumatic.

Its etiology is unknown, but it is due to granulomatous inflammation of the superficial temporal artery. Diagnosis is usually made clinically but can be confirmed with a biopsy of the superficial temporal artery. The superficial skin of the scalp has a dark and warm environment filled with hair follicles and heavy sebum production that makes it prone to fungal infection. These different mycotic infections can cause varying degrees of pruritus, alopecia, inflammation, scaling, and scarring of the epidermis.

Different infections are caused by different organisms that dictate what kind of treatment is necessary for cure. For example, dandruff and seborrheic dermatitis are due to the Malassezia fungus and can be treated topically, while tinea capitis, also known as scalp ringworm, is due to infection by the dermatophytes Tricophytan or Microsporum and are usually treated systemically. Immune cells migrate from the dermis to the epidermis and signal for the excessive proliferation of the superficial epidermal layer of the scalp.

Like the infectious disorders of the scalp, psoriasis can correlate with a certain degree of pruritus, scaling, scarring, and alopecia that is variable between different individuals. At this point, there are no cures, but the disease is managed based on the severity of the disease. If Psoriasis only affects a certain area like the scalp, it can be treated locally with topical corticosteroids, emollients, and vitamin D analogs.

If the Psoriasis affects multiple parts of the body and causes systemic symptoms like arthritis, it should receive treatment with systemic medications like methotrexate. Scalp Nerves and Arteries, Supratrochlear nerve, Supraorbital nerve, Zygomaticotemporal nerve, Auriculotemporal nerve, Lesser occipital nerve, Greater occipital nerve, Supratrochlear artery, Supratorbital artery, Zygomaticotemporal artery, Superficial more Arteries of the scalp.

Contributed by Gray's Anatomy Plates. Layers of the Scalp. This book is distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4. Turn recording back on. National Center for Biotechnology Information , U. StatPearls [Internet]. Search term. Affiliations 1 Wayne St. University School of Medicine. Introduction The scalp is composed of soft tissue layers that cover the cranium. Structure and Function The scalp serves as a physical barrier to protect the cranial vault from physical trauma and potential pathogens that can cause infection.

Embryology The ectoderm is the outermost layer of embryonic tissue in the developing fetus. Blood Supply and Lymphatics The vascular supply to the scalp comes from the common carotid artery, posterior intercostal arteries, and the terminal branches of the subclavian artery. These arteries connect through an impressive network of anastomoses, with anastomoses in the temporal region being the most numerous, The common carotid artery bifurcates into the internal and external carotid arteries at the carotid sinus.

Nerves The ophthalmic division V1 of the trigeminal nerve branches into the frontal nerve, which eventually bifurcates into the supratrochlear and supraorbital nerves.

Muscles As previously mentioned, the galea aponeurotica is a continuation of the occipitofrontal muscle. Physiologic Variants The intricate network of arteries that interconnect and form the blood supply to the scalp is susceptible to considerable variation between different individuals. Surgical Considerations As discussed in the previous section, no matter the variation, the rich array of anastomoses will cover the complete blood supply to the scalp.

Clinical Significance The loose areolar connective tissue is a harbor for a potential infection that can spread to the meninges. Review Questions Access free multiple choice questions on this topic.

Comment on this article. Figure Scalp Nerves and Arteries, Supratrochlear nerve, Supraorbital nerve, Zygomaticotemporal nerve, Auriculotemporal nerve, Lesser occipital nerve, Greater occipital nerve, Supratrochlear artery, Supratorbital artery, Zygomaticotemporal artery, Superficial more Figure Scalp Veins. Figure Arteries of the scalp. Figure Layers of the Scalp.

Figure Scalp layers. Image courtesy S Bhimji MD. References 1. Grimalt R. A practical guide to scalp disorders. J Investig Dermatol Symp Proc. CT and MRI features of scalp lesions. Radiol Med. Scalp reconstruction: an algorithmic approach and systematic review. Kim J. Treatment of Scalp Scars. Singh R, Munakomi S. Embryology, Neural Tube. Congenital Absence of Skin on Scalp. J Pediatr. Shevel E. A method for determining when the superficial scalp arteries are the source of migraine pain.

S Afr Med J. Seery GE. Surgical anatomy of the scalp. Dermatol Surg. Anatomy, Head and Neck, Scalp Veins. Huff T, Daly DT. Successful replantation of an avulsed scalp by microvascular anastomoses. Plast Reconstr Surg. J Emerg Med. Giant cell arteritis. Dis Mon. Diagnosis and management of psoriasis. Can Fam Physician. Anatomy, Head and Neck, Scalp. In: StatPearls [Internet]. In this Page. Related information. Similar articles in PubMed.

Fascial layers of the scalp. A study of 48 cadaveric dissections. Surg Radiol Anat. Blood enters the heart through two large veins, the inferior and superior vena cava, emptying oxygen-poor blood from the body into the right atrium of the heart. As the atrium contracts, blood flows from your right atrium into your right ventricle through the open tricuspid valve. Albi Dalhoff Explainer. What is the largest vein in the body? Chaimae Braunlich Explainer.

What are the four chambers of the heart? The heart has four chambers: two atria and two ventricles. The right atrium receives oxygen-poor blood from the body and pumps it to the right ventricle. The right ventricle pumps the oxygen-poor blood to the lungs. The left atrium receives oxygen-rich blood from the lungs and pumps it to the left ventricle.

Clementino Molodchinin Explainer. What vessels take blood to the kidneys? Blood comes to the kidneys from the abdominal aorta and inferior vena cava , the large arteries and veins that are part of the ascending aorta.

Oxygenated blood is brought to the kidneys from a small branch called the renal artery. Jialing Oppacher Pundit. What are blood vessels leading to the heart called? The major blood vessels connected to your heart are the aorta, the superior vena cava, the inferior vena cava, the pulmonary artery which takes oxygen-poor blood from the heart to the lungs where it is oxygenated , the pulmonary veins which bring oxygen-rich blood from the lungs to the heart , and the coronary.

Francis Abalakoff Pundit. What happens when you cut the jugular vein? If your jugular is punctured, Ashley warns, " you can rapidly lose blood. Magnus Fernandez De Bobadilla Pundit.

Where does the jugular vein drain into? There are two sets of jugular veins : external and internal. The left and right external jugular veins drain into the subclavian veins. The internal jugular veins join with the subclavian veins more medially to form the brachiocephalic veins.

Jerilyn Linders Pundit. Is the jugular vein on the left or right? When the jugular vein is visible, it's known as jugular vein distention JVD. Internal and external jugular veins run along the right and left sides of your neck. They bring blood from your head to the superior vena cava, which is the largest vein in the upper body. Jeison Chiran Pundit. How deep are arteries in face?

The distance between the facial artery and the oral commissure was The distance between the facial artery and the nasal ala was 6. Iustina Zingrebe Teacher. Where does the facial vein drain? Myla Guindo Teacher. How many blood vessels are in the face? Zaima Baurmann Teacher. What arteries supply blood to the face and scalp? Major Blood Vessels. Saturnina Molino Teacher. Which veins carry deoxygenated blood from the deep muscles of the back and neck? Pulmonary veins transport blood that's been filled with oxygen by the lungs to the heart.

Each lung has two sets of pulmonary veins , a right and left one.