VEIN8 Or THE EXTERIOR OF THE HEAD AXD FACE 



713 



backward beneath the Sternomastoid muscle, crosses the external carotid artery, 

 and empties into the internal jugular vein at the level of the hyoid line. It receives 

 a large communicating branch at the anterior border of the Sternomastoid muscle, 

 which comes from the anterior jugular vein in the suprasternal fossa. 



Tributaries of Facial Veins. The facial vein receives, near the angle of the mouth, 

 communicating tributaries of considerable size, the deep facial (or anterior in- 

 ternal maxillary vein), from the pterygoid plexus. It is also joined by the inferior 

 palpebral, the superior and inferior labial veins, the buccal veins from the cheek, 



Frontal 



Communicating 

 branch with 

 'hthalmic rein, 

 Angular. 





Anterior division 



of the temporo- 



maxiUari/. 



Anterior 

 'facial. 



Common 

 facial 

 Lingual. 

 Laryngeal. 



FIG. 495. Veins of the head and neck. 



and the masseteric veins. The common facial vein receives the submental; the 

 inferior palatine, which returns the blood from the plexus around the tonsil and 

 soft palate; the submaxillary vein, which commences in the submaxillary gland; 

 and, generally, the ranine vein. 



Applied Anatomy. There are some points about the facial vein which render it of great 

 importance in surgery. It is not so flaccid as are most superficial veins, and, in consequence of 

 this, remains more patent when divided. It has. moreover, no valves. It communicates freelv 



