6. Identify the retromandibular vein and its divisions and review the branches of the external carotid artery to the face region.
In this specimen you can see the retromandibular vein as it descends next to the mandible. It is joined by the posterior auricular vein and the facial vein to form the external jugular vein. The facial vein runs superficial to the submandibular gland and drains the face. The more common anatomy is illustrated in this diagram. The facial vein joins the anterior division of the retromandibular vein to form the common facial draining into the internal jugular. The facial artery emerges from the submandibular gland. In this specimen it has a large supplemental branch and the facial artery itself continues onto the face. The superficial temporal artery is seen here running just anterior to the ear. The auricular temporal nerve accompanies this artery. As previously seen in the carotid sheath lab, note the branches of the external carotid artery: the superior thyroid artery, the lingual artery, the facial artery, the ascending pharyngeal artery, and off the posterior side, the occipital artery.
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