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Thursday, April 25, 2024

Scalp : lecture notes for written and viva examination

 

Scalp

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Definition: it is formed by skin and subcutaneous tissue that covers the bones of vault of the skull. It Extends of scalp

Anteriorly: Supraorbital margin,

Laterally : Superior temporal lines,

Posteriorly: External occipital protuberance and highest and superior nuchal lines.







Layers of scalp

It contain  five layers.

Superficial three are intimately bound together and move as one unit.

 The five layers from superficial to deep are:

1.      S- Skin: It is thick layer. It contains large number of hair follicles and associated sebaceous glands. Thus, scalp is the commonest site of sebaceous cysts.

2.     C – Connective tissue (Superficial fascia) It is composed of dense connective tissue that binds the skin to the  underlying aponeurosis of occipitofrontalis muscle. Fibrous septa break up this layer into numerous small pockets containing lobules of fat. This layer contains large number of  blood vessels and nerves which  adherent to the fibrous network, so any injury of this layer,  if the blood vessels are torn or cut, the walls are unable to retract and this causes profuse bleeding.

3.     A- Aponeurosis (Epicranial aponeurosis): It is composed of occipitofrontalis muscle and its aponeurosis. The aponeurosis of occipitofrontalis muscle is also called epicranial aponeurosis or galea aponeurotica (Latin: galea = helmet) which is a tendon like structure with connect the occipitalis and frontalis muscles the two belly of occipitofrontalis muscle  . The wounds of the scalp gape if epicranial aponeurosis is cut transversely because the aponeurosis is pulled in the anteroposterior direction by the tone of occipitofrontalis muscle.

4.     L- Loose areolar tissue: It is made up of loose areolar tissue. It is traversed by emissary veins which connect the veins in the second layer of scalp with intracranial dural venous sinuses. It is also known as the ‘dangerous layer of scalp’.

5.     P –Pericranium: It is composed of the periosteum of bones of vault of skull. It is loosely connected to the underlying bones and can be easily stripped except at sutures, where it is connected tightly to the endocranium via sutural ligaments.

 


Arterial supply of scalp

Scalp has a rich blood supply from the branches of external and internal carotid arteries.

There are five arteries on each side, three in front of the auricle and two behind the auricle. The arteries are:

 In front of the auricle:

Supratrochlear and Supraorbital (branches of internal carotid artery)

Superficial temporal (branch of external carotid artery)

Behind the auricle:

Posterior auricular and Occipital (branches of external carotid artery)

Venous Drainage

The venous drainage of the scalp

It can be divided into superficial and deep components.

The superficial drainage follows the arterial supply: superficial temporal, occipital, posterior auricular, supraorbital and supratrochlear veins.

The deep (temporal) region of the skull is drained by the pterygoid venous plexus. This is a large plexus of veins situated between the temporalis and lateral pterygoid muscles,and drains into the maxillary vein.

Importantly, the veins of the scalp connect to the diploic veins of the skull via valveless emissary veins. This establishes a connection between the scalp and the dural venous sinuses.

Nerve supply of scalp

 It receives cutaneous innervation from branches of the trigeminal nerve or the cervical nerve roots.

Trigeminal Nerve

Supratrochlear nerve – branch of the ophthalmic nerve (sensory nerve) , branch of trigeminal nerve  which supplies the anteromedial forehead.

Supraorbital nerve – branch of the ophthalmic nerve (sensory nerve) which supplies a large portion of the scalp between the anterolateral forehead and the vertex.

Zygomaticotemporal nerve (sensory nerve) – branch of the maxillary nerve, this supplies the temple.

Auriculotemporal nerve (sensory nerve) – branch of the mandibular nerve which supplies skin anterosuperior to the auricle.

Cervical Nerves

Lesser occipital nerve – derived from the anterior ramus (division) of C2 spinal nerve and supplies the skin posterior to the ear

Greater occipital nerve – derived from the posterior ramus (division) of C2 spinal nerve and supplies the skin of the occipital region.

Great auricular nerve – derived from the anterior rami of C2 and C3 spinal nerves and supplies the skin posterior to the ear and over the angle of the mandible.

Third occipital nerve – derived from the posterior ramus of C3 spinal nerve and supplies the skin of the inferior occipital region.

Scalp on either side of the midline is supplied by

Sensory nerves of the scalp

IN FRONT OF THE AURICLE

BEHIND THE AURICLE

Supratrochlear (from ophthalmic division of trigeminal nerve

Great auricular (from ventral rami of C2-C3 spinal nerves)

Supraorbital (from ophthalmic division of trigeminal nerve)

Lesser occipital from ventral ramus of C2 spinal nerve)

Zygomaticotemporal (from maxillary division of trigeminal nerve

Greater occipital (from dorsal ramus of C2 spinal nerve)

Auriculotemporal (from mandibular division of trigeminal nerve)

Third occipital (from dorsal ramus of C3 spinal nerve)

 

Motor supply of Scalp

MUSCLE

LOCATION

NERVE SUPPLY

Occipital bellies of occipitofrontalis muscle

Behind the auricle

Posterior auricular branch of facial nerve

Frontal bellies of occipitofrontalis muscle

In front of the auricle

Temporal branch of facial nerve

 

Occipitofrontalis muscle consists of a pair of occipital bellies (posteriorly) and a pair of frontal bellies (anteriorly). Both the parts are inserted into the intervening galea aponeurotica or epicranial aponeurosis.

MUSCLE

ORIGIN

INSERTION

NERVE SUPPLY

ACTION

Occipital bellies of occipitofrontalis muscle

Lateral 2/3 rd of superior nuchal lines of occipital bone

Into epicranial aponeurosis

Posterior auricular branch of facial nerve

Alternate contraction of occipitalis and

 frontalis move the scalp backward and forward

Frontal bellies of occipitofrontalis muscle

Skin and subcutaneous tissue over the eyebrows and root of nose

Into epicranial aponeurosis

Temporal branch of facial nerve

Frontal bellies raise the eyebrows as in surprise.

 

Why deep transverse wounds of scalp tend to gape, but not longitudinal wound?

 In deep wounds of scalp if the epicranial aponeurosis is cut transversly the wounds tend to gape because the aponeurosis is under tension in anteroposterior direction due to the tone of occipitofrontalis muscle. If the wound cuts longitudinally along the direction of fibers of the aponeurosis which is directed antereoposteriorly, so it will not create large gape.  

Why scalp wounds bleed profusely – explain anatomically?

Deep lacerations to the scalp tend to bleed profusely for several reasons.

These are:

1.      Rich Blood Supply and Adherent Blood Vessel Walls: The scalp has a large number of arteries, veins, and capillaries that provide blood to the tissues. Compared to blood vessels in other parts of the body, these blood vessels in the scalp are less mobile because they are embedded in the fibrous connective tissue. A scalp wound prevents the arteries from properly retracting or constricting, which results in prolonged bleeding.

2.     Occipitofrontalis Muscle: The muscle covering the top of the skull is called the occipitofrontalis muscle, or epicranial aponeurosis. It is a thin, broad muscle. It is divided into the frontal belly and the occipital belly, which are joined by a central tendon. This muscle is in charge of making the forehead wrinkled and lifting the eyebrows. Because of its adherence to the scalp's epidermis, it may impede a wound's natural healing process, thereby intensifying bleeding.

3.     Anastomoses: Numerous arterial anastomoses, or connections between arteries that permit blood to flow from one vessel to another, are characteristics of the scalp's blood supply. In the event of a compromised vascular, these anastomoses offer alternative pathways for blood flow. Under normal circumstances, this redundancy helps with tissue perfusion; nevertheless, when a scalp injury occurs, it also leads to excessive bleeding.

Why 4th layer of scalp (loose areolar tissue) is known as ‘dangerous layer of scalp’-explain anatomically?

The sub-aponeurotic loose areolar connective tissue layer is known as dangerous layer of scalp because the blood and pus tend to collect in this layer and as it contains the emissary veins (which connect veins of scalp to intracranial dural venous sinuses), the infection from this layer may travel readily along the emissary veins into the intracranial venous sinuses.

Why a blow on head may cause ‘Black Eye”-explain anatomically?

A  blow on head leads to collection of blood in the 4th layer  (loose areolar tissue) of scalp. The blood from this layer may gravitate into the eyelids because the frontalis muscle has no bony attachment. This leads to formation of hematoma and black discoloration of skin around the eyes few hours after the head injury resulting in a condition called ‘black eye’. The blood cannot pass laterally or posteriorly due to the attachment of  epicranial aponeurosis and occipitalis muscle to the superficial temporal lines and superior nuchal lines respectively.

Why 4th layer of scalp known as safety valve hematoma-explain anatomically?

In children the fracture of cranial vault may be accompanied by torn dura mater and pericranium. In such cases the blood from intracranial hemorrhage escapes into the subaponeurotic/fourth layer of the scalp through the fracture lines. As a result, the signs of cerebral compression are not seen until the subaponeurotic space is completely full of blood. Because of this the collection of blood in the fourth layer is referred to as a safety valve hematoma.

Explain anatomical basis of cephalhematoma

Accumulation of blood deep to the pericranium/periosteal layer of scalp due to injury is known as cephalhematoma. The swelling  is localized over the particular bone and takes the shape of the bone involved, because  the pericranium is loosely attached over the bones except at the sutural lines where it is connected to the endosteum via sutural ligaments. The hematoma is bound by suture lines  and the swelling has well-defined margins. Cephalhematoma is often seen in the parietal region. It may take 4-7 days to disappear.

Explain anatomical basis of caput succedaneum: It is a collection of fluid in the loose areolar tissue/fourth layer of the scalp.  The swelling is diffuse, crosses the sutures and the midlne and is over the presenting part of the head at delivery.  It  occurs  due to obstruction of venous return of scalp during the passage of head via the birth canal. Usually the edema subsides in  24-48 hrs.

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