ABSTRACT
The ascending pharyngeal, accessory meningeal, and lingual arteries branch from the proximal segment of the external carotid artery. These branches give rise to smaller branches that contribute blood supply to the pharyngeal mucosa, parapharyngeal tissue, middle ear, submandibular tissues, tongue, and dura mater of the middle and posterior fossa. These arteries may also supply the cranial nerves and have potential anastomotic channels that function with the internal carotid and vertebral arteries. M igration of embolic material into the vasa nervorum and potential anastomoses may cause complications. Therefore, knowledge of these functional anatomies is crucial for neuro-interventionalists.
Subject(s)
Meningeal Arteries , Humans , Meningeal Arteries/surgery , Meningeal Arteries/diagnostic imaging , Pharynx/blood supply , Pharynx/surgery , Tongue/blood supply , Tongue/surgery , Carotid Artery, External/surgeryABSTRACT
The tonsils form part of a circular band of adenoid tissue which guards the opening into the digestive andrespiratory tubes, known as Waldeyers ring. The anterior part of the ring is formed by the submucouslymphoid clusters (lingual tonsil) on the posterior part of the tongue; the lateral portions consist of thepalatine tonsils and the lymphoid tissue in the vicinity of the auditory tubes, while the ring is completedbehind by the pharyngeal tonsil on the posterior wall of the pharynx. In the intervals between these mainsmaller collections of lymphoid tissue are found. This paper intends to give to the clinician an anatomicalreview about the subject.