456 



VEINS OF THE HEAD AND NECK. 



(&) The supraorbital vein (v. supercilii) 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 integu- 

 ment, and at the inner angle of the orbit inclines downwards to terminate in the 

 frontal vein. 



Fig. 310. Fig. 310. VIEW OP THE SU- 



PERFICIAL VEINS OF THE 

 HEAD AND NECK. 



1, sterno-mastoid muscle ; a, 

 facial vein ; b, temporal vein ; 

 c, transverse facial ; d, pos- 

 terior auricular ; e, internal 

 maxillary vein ; /, external 

 jugular vein ; g, posterior ex- 

 ternal jugular ; h, anterior 

 jugular ; i, posterior scapular 

 and suprascapular veins ; k, 

 internal jugular vein; I, occi- 

 pital veins ; m, subclavian vein : 

 above the inner side of the orbit 

 are shown the frontal and su- 

 praorbital veins, and their de- 

 scending branches to anastomose 

 with the angular or terminal 

 branch of the facial vein. 



(c) The angular vein, formed 

 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 veins, which pass upwards 

 obliquely to join it from the side and ridge of the nose ; whilst some small superior 

 palpebral 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. 



(d) The inferior palpebral veins, two or three in number, are derived from the 

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

 direction obliquely inwards above the zygomatic muscle, and then turn beneath it 

 previously to their termination. 



(e) Communicating branches from the pterygoid plexus (deep facial, anterior, inter- 

 nal maxillary) ; and also some branches proceeding from the orbit, furnished by the 

 infraorbital of the internal maxillary vein, join the facial on a level with the angle 

 of the mouth. 



(/) Labial, buccal, masseteric, and mental branches join the facial below the angle 

 of the mouth. 



(g) The ranine vein, a small vessel which lies along the under surface of the tongue, 

 close to the frsenum linguae, is in apposition with the artery of the same name ; its 

 course is backwards and outwards, 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 subrnaxillary 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. 



(i) Submaxillary branches from the gland join the facial vein either separately or 

 united into one trunk. 



0") The palatine vein returns the blood from the plexus round the tonsil and 



