OF THE HEAD. 459 



arch ; and the angular vein receives, on its inner side, the veins of the ala nasi, 

 on its outer side the superior palpebral veins ; it moreover communicates with 

 the ophthalmic vein, which establishes an important anastomosis between this 

 vessel and the cavernous sinus. 



The facial vein commences at the inner angle of the orbit, being a continuation 

 of the angular vein. It passes obliquely downwards and outwards, beneath the 

 great Zygomatic muscle, descends along the anterior border of the Masseter, crosses 

 over the body of the lower jaw, with the facial artery, and, passing obliquely out- 

 wards and backwards, beneath the Platysma and cervical fascia, unites with a 

 branch of communication from the temporo-maxillary vein, to form a trunk of 

 large size which enters the internal jugular. 



Branches. The facial vein receives, near the angle of the mouth, communica- 

 ting branches from the pterygoid plexus. It is also joined by the inferior pal- 

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

 the masseteric veins. Below the jaw, it 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, 

 lastly, the ranine vein. 



The Temporal Vein commences by a minute plexus on the side and vertex of 

 the skull, which communicates with the frontal vein in front, the corresponding 

 vein of the opposite side, and the posterior auricular and occipital veins behind. 

 From this network, anterior and posterior branches are formed which unite above 

 the zygoma, forming the trunk of the vein. This trunk is joined in this situation 

 by a large vein, the middle temporal, which receives the blood from the substance 

 of the Temporal muscle and pierces the fascia at the upper border of the zygoma. 

 The temporal vein then descends between the external auditory meatus and the 

 condyle of the jaw, enters the substance of the parotid gland, and unites with the 

 internal maxillary vein, to form the temporo-maxillary. 



Branches. The temporal vein receives in its course some parotid veins, an 

 articular branch from the articulation of the jaw, anterior auricular veins from 

 the external ear, and a vein of large size, the transverse facial, from the side of 

 the face. 



The Internal Maxillary Vein is a vessel of considerable size, receiving branches 

 which correspond with those derived from the internal maxillary artery. Thus 

 it receives the middle meningeal veins, the deep temporal, the pterygoid, masse- 

 teric, buccal, some palatine veins, and the inferior dental. These branches 

 form a large plexus, the pterygoid, which is placed between the Temporal and 

 External pterygoid, and partly between the Pterygoid muscles. This plexus 

 communicates very freely with the facial vein, and with the cavernous sinus, by 

 branches through the base of the skull. The trunk of the vein then passes 

 backwards, behind the neck of the lower jaw, and unites with the temporal vein, 

 forming the temporo-maxillary. 



The Temporo-maxillary Vein, formed by the union of the temporal and in- 

 ternal maxillary vein, descends in the substance of the parotid gland, between 

 the ramus of the jaw and the Sterno-mastoid muscle, and divides into two 

 branches, one of which passes inwards to join the facial vein, the other is con- 

 tinuous with the external jugular. It receives near its termination the posterior 

 auricular vein. 



The Posterior Auricular Vein commences upon the side of the head, by a plexus 

 which communicates with the branches of the temporal and occipital veins ; de- 

 scending behind the external ear, it joins the temporo-maxillary, just before that 

 vessel terminates in the external jugular. This vessel receives the stylo-mastoid 

 vein, and some branches from the back part of the external ear. 



The Occipital Vein commences at the back part of the vertex of the skull, by 

 a plexus in a similar manner with the other veins. It follows the course of the 

 occipital artery, passing deeply beneath the muscles of the back part of the neck, 

 and terminates in the internal jugular, occasionally in the external jugular. As 



