Arterial supply of the oral mucosa.

In 15 human heads, bilateral injection through the common carotid artery was carried out in order to find out whether there are any more or less distinctly limited segments of the oral mucosa supplied by certain arterial branches that would represent the nutritive pedicles of the respective segments. It seems that the gingiva libera of the buccal side in the region of the upper molars and premolars represents such a segment. In spite of small anastomoses between the right and left sublingual arteries, one half of the sublingual mucosa may also be considered as a segment. The same refers to the mucosa of one half of the hard palate. Even smaller units of varying extent of the palatine mucosa may be differentiated as distinct vascular areas. For the majority of the oral mucosa, however, no limitations of vascular segments with distinct arterial pedicles could be discovered.

Surgical anatomy of the upper vertebral artery.

A surgical approach to the upper vertebral artery between C1 and C2 is described. Following dissection of the posterior border of the sternocleidomastoid and the anterior border of the splenius capitis the two muscles are held apart and the levator scapulae is transected at its origin from C1. The cranial end of the vertebral artery can now be connected with the common carotid or external carotid arteries.

[Surgical anatomy of the internal carotid artery]. / Chirurgische Anatomie der Arteria carotis interna.

Starting from the carotid trigone, a surgical approach to the parapharyngeal part of the internal carotid artery is described. The retrostyloidal part of the lateropharyngeal space is opened up from laterocaudal after resecting the posterior belly of the digastric muscle and the styloidal muscles. Vulneration of the cranial nerves (VII, IX, X) has to be prevented.