The section of your face from the bridge of your nose to the corners of your mouth is sometimes known as the “danger triangle of the face,” or even the “triangle of death.” And it's one place where you should never pop a pimple, as it can lead to an infection in your brain.
The danger triangle of the face consists of the triangle bounded by the bridge of the nose and the corners of the mouth (see image below). The venous drainage of this area includes ophthalmic, infraorbital, and deep facial veins.
Due to the unique nature of the blood supply to the human nose and surrounding area, it is dangerous for infections to occur around this area as it could spread to delicate organs. If the skin inside this triangle is broken, like from a cut or popped pimple, bacteria can enter the body and cause infection.
Blood Supply of the Brain and Clinical Issues
Infections in the “danger triangle”, i.e. the orbit, upper part of the face and the paranasal sinuses can spread deep into the cranial cavity via communications with the superior ophthalmic veins. Infection can pass into the cavernous sinus.
CST commonly arises from infections from the paranasal sinuses and area around the nose, eyes, and mouth, also known as the danger triangle of the face. [1] Infections from this area can travel through the skin and pterygoid plexus, a valveless venous system that connects with the cavernous sinus.
Cavernous sinus thrombosis is a rare blood clot that can form in response to an infection in your face or head. It's fatal in about 1 in 3 cases. Early symptoms include a severe headache, followed by swelling or bulging in one or both eyes. This condition requires immediate treatment.
The cavernous sinuses receive venous blood from the facial veins (via the superior and inferior ophthalmic veins) as well as the sphenoid and middle cerebral veins.
The facial vein (or anterior facial vein) is a relatively large vein in the human face. It commences at the side of the root of the nose and is a direct continuation of the angular vein where it also receives a small nasal branch. It lies behind the facial artery and follows a less tortuous course.
The vorticose veins, more commonly referred to as vortex veins, drain the ocular choroid. Some empty into the cavernous sinus through the superior orbital veins, whereas others drain into the pterygoid plexus through the inferior orbital veins.
The Internal jugular vein, the anterior jugular vein, and the external jugular vein are responsible for the venous drainage of the face (and of the head and neck in general).
Popping your pimples anywhere on your face is not advised, especially in the area on your face known as the "danger triangle." You risk an infection that could travel to your brain and bloodstream if you pop a pimple in that region.
It's tempting, but popping or squeezing a pimple won't necessarily get rid of the problem. Squeezing can push bacteria and pus deeper into the skin, which might cause more swelling and redness. Squeezing also can lead to scabs and might leave you with permanent pits or scars.
If you're bleeding, she says to “gently blot the area with a clean tissue or cotton pad and clean the area with alcohol.” Once the blood has stopped, she advises applying a spot treatment containing benzoyl peroxide or salicylic acid as mentioned above.
The most dangerous and vulnerable area for the temporal branch of the facial nerve is over the zygomatic arch and temple.
Answer and Explanation: The vein a phlebotomist should avoid for venipuncture without the permission of the patient's physician is dorsalis pedis. Dorsalis pedis is the vein present in the foot.
The Danger Zone is the temperature range between 40 °F (4.4 ºC) and 140 °F (60 ºC) in which bacteria can grow rapidly. To keep food out of the Danger Zone, keep cold food cold, at or below 40 °F (4.4 ºC) , and hot food hot, at or above 140 °F (60 ºC).
Periorbital veins are small veins around your eyes that bring blood to the vessels in your eyes. These veins can normally function and do their job without becoming visible from under your skin. They can be blue, purple, or yellow, and they can be a normal part of aging.
Periorbital veins are visible veins beneath the eyes which are often blue in appearance and sometimes bulge, causing an appearance of premature aging and fatigue. In some cases, hiding these veins is impossible. No amount of concealer will cover a bulging periorbital vein.
The vortex veins are significant ophthalmoscopic landmarks in the peripheral fundus. Their position provides a consistent vantage point for the clinician to use for orientation in performing binocular indirect ophthalmoscopy.
The retromandibular vein is located in the facial area in front of the ear. This is a paired vein, with one on each side of the face. This deep vein of the face drains deoxygenated blood from various parts of the head and itself drains into the jugular veins to return the blood to the heart and lungs.
Facial Nerve
The facial vein, as it crosses the mandible, lies immediately deep to the marginal mandibular nerve (Khatri & Loree, 2002). The cervical branch of the facial nerve will be found on the deep surface of the platysma as it innervates this muscle.
Interior jugular veins: These are larger than the external jugular veins and start inside your skull, running downward on either side of your windpipe. They're known as the interior because they run under your neck muscles.
The deep facial vein passes between the facial vein and drains into the pterygoid plexus anterior to the masseter muscle. The pterygoid plexus in the infratemporal fossa receives an emissary vein from the cavernous sinus in the middle cranial fossa through the foramen ovale.
Facial veins and implication to cavernous sinus infection
Blood from the medial angle of the eye, lips, and nose usually drain via the facial vein. However, blood from these parts may also drain superiorly through the facial vein, to the superior ophthalmic, to the cavernous sinus.
Sixth nerve palsy is the most common. Sensory deficits of the ophthalmic and maxillary branch of the fifth nerve are common.