476 VEINS OF THE HEAD AND NECK. 



forehead, the frontal vein receives a branch from the eyebrow, and some, of 

 smaller size, from the nose and upper eyelid. 



(Zi) Tlie sujjra-orhitdl vem (v. snpercilii) runs inwards in the direction of 

 the eyebrow, covered by the occipito-frontalis muscle. Its branches are con- 

 nected externally with those of the external palpebral and superficial temporal 

 veins : in its course it receives branches from the contiguous muscles and in- 

 teg-ument. and at the inner angle of the orbit inclines downwards to terminate 

 in the frontal A^ein. 



(c) The anr/iilar vein, fonned by the junction of the supra-orbital and frontal 

 veins, is perceptible beneath the skin as it runs obliquely downwards and 

 outwards near the inner margin of the orbit, resting against the side of the 

 nose at its root. This vessel receives on the inner side the nasal veinx, which 

 pass upwards obliquely to join it from the side and ridge of the nose ; whilst 

 some small superior paljx'hral veins open into it from the opposite direction. 

 On a level with the lower margin of the orbit it becomes continuous with the 

 facial vein. 



((I) The inferior paljhhral veins, two or three in number, are derived fi"om the 

 lower eyelid, from the outer side of the orbit, and from the cheek. They pass in 

 a direction obliquely inwards aboA-e the zygomatic muscle, and then turn beneath 

 it previously to their tennination. 



((') Commnnicatinij branches from the pterygoid plexus (deep facial, anterior 

 internal maxUlaiy) and also some branches proceeding from the orbit, furnished 

 by the infra-orbital of the internal maxillary vein, join the facial on a level with 

 the angle of the mouth. 



(/) Labial, bnceal, inas.seterie and mental branches join the facial below the 

 angle of the mouth. 



((/) The ranine vein is a small vessel which lies along the under surface of the 

 tongue, close to the fra3num linguae, in apposition with the artery of the same 

 name : its course is backwards and outvi-ards, between the mylo-hyoid and hyo- 

 glossus muscles, to open into the facial vein, or sometimes into the lingual. 



{h) The submental vein, larger than the preceding, commences below the chin ; 

 it receives branches from the submaxillary gland, and from the mylo-hyoid 

 muscle, and, keeping close under cover of the margin of the jaw-bone, joins the 

 facial vein ; but in some instances it enters the lingual or superior thyroid vein. 



(/■) Submaxillart/ branches from the gland join the facial vein either sepai-ately 

 or united into one trunk. 



{j) The palatine vein returns the blood from the plexus surrounding the tonsil 

 and from the soft palate ; it passes downwards, deeply seated by the side of 

 the pharj-nx, to join one of the preceding veins, or terminate in the facial 

 separately. 



The temporal vein, a vessel of considerable size, descends in front of 

 the external auditory tube, reaching from the zygoma, upon which it 

 rests, to the angle of the javr. It results from the union of branches 

 which are spread out upon the side of the head, some superficially, and 

 others deeply seated. The siif)crficial branches commence upon the 

 arch of the skull, where they communicate with the ramifications of 

 the frontal and occipital veins, as well as with those of the corre- 

 sponding vein of the opposite side. Desc ending on the surface of the 

 temporal fascia, they converge ; those from the forepart inclining a 

 little backwards, while the ])osterior branches run forwards over the 

 ear ; and the two sets joining together above the zygoma form the 

 trunk of the temporal vein. The deeper branches, arising in the sub- 

 stance of the temporal muscle, unite to form a vein of some size, called 

 the middle temporal, to distinguish it from branches still more deeply 

 placed, and which open into the internal maxillary vein. The middle 

 temporal vein falls into the common temporal trunk at its commence- 

 ment above the zygoma. The temporal vein gradually siuks into the 



