464 



VEINS OF THE HEAD AND NECK. 



the basilar process of the occipital bone. It opens into the lateral sinus 

 near the termination, or into the internal jugular vein. 



The anterior occipital or transverse sinus (sinus basilaris) is placed at the 

 fore part of the basilar process of the occipital bone, so as to establish a 

 transverse communication between the opposite inferior petrosal and the 



cavernous sinuses. 



OPHTHALMIC VEIN. 



The ophthalmic vein opens into the cavernous sinus. Its branches are 

 distributed in the different structures contained within the orbit, in com- 

 pany with the branches of the ophthalmic artery : some small ramifications 

 arise from the eyelids, whilst others communicate with the angular branch 

 of the facial vein ; and those which accompany the supraorbital artery have 

 similar connections with the veins upon the forehead. All these branches, 

 together with others arising from the lachrymal gland, from the different 

 muscles, from the ethmoidal cells, and from the globe of the eye, severally 



Fig. 315. 



Fig. 315. SKETCH OF THE OPHTHALMIC VEIN, AND OF ITS DISTRIBUTION AND COM- 

 MUNICATION WITH OTHER VEINS (altered from Hirschfeld arid Leveille). 



The orbit is opened from the outer side and the dissection is similar to that for display- 

 ing the ophthalmic artery (represented in Figure 260, at p. 361) ; a, the optic nerve 

 before it enters the optic foramen; b, the superior oblique muscle divided before it passes 

 through its pulley ; c, the lachrymal gland lying upon the eyeball ; d, the insertion of 

 the inferior oblique muscle ; e, foramen rotundum ; /, sinus maxillaris, opened externally; 

 I., the ophthalmic vein joining the cavernous sinus ; 1, supraorbital branch ; 2, muscular 

 and lachrymal branches ; 3, ciliary ; 4, anterior and posterior nasal or ethmoid ; 5, 

 frontal ; 6, infraorbital ; II., facial vein ; 7, communication with the internal maxillary ; 

 8, external nasal ; 9, angular, communicating at 10, with the frontal and supraorbital ; 

 III., external jugular vein commencing at the junction of IV., the temporal and V., the 

 internal maxillary veins ; 11, meningeal branch ; 12, inferior dental ; 13, muscular ; 14, 

 communication between the facial, malar, and infraorbital; 15, placed in the spheno- 

 maxilliary fossa above branches connected with the pterygoid plexus. 



