Carotid sheath sternum. The four major structures contained in the carotid sheath are: The carotid artery lies medial to the internal jugular vein, and the vagus nerve is situated posteriorly between the two vessels. In the upper part, the carotid sheath also contains the glossopharyngeal nerve (IX), the accessory nerve (XI), and the hypoglossal nerve (XII), which pierce the fascia of the carotid sheath. The ansa cervicalis is embedded in the anterior wall of sheath. It is formed by "descendens hypoglossi" (C1) and "descendens cervicalis" (C2-C3). The three major fascial layers in the neck contribute to the carotid sheath: the investing fascia,
Long posterior ciliary arteries pupillary margin, where they form a second (incomplete) arterial circle, the circulus arteriosus minor. The long posterior ciliary arteries supply the iris, ciliary body and choroid. Long posterior ciliary arteries The long posterior ciliary arteries are arteries of the head arising, together with the other ciliary arteries, from the ophthalmic artery. There are two in each eye. They pierce the posterior part of the sclera at some little distance from the optic nerve, and run forward, along either side of the eyeball, between the sclera and choroid, to the ciliary muscle, where they divide into two branches. These form an