External Carotid Artery

Description:[edit | edit source]

The external carotid artery is one of the two terminal branches of the common carotid artery which is smaller the the other branche (the internal carotid artery).[1]

Course:[edit | edit source]

It's course passes under the submandibular gland and into the parotid gland.[1]

Branches and divisions:[edit | edit source]

  • Superior thyroid artery 
  • Ascending pharyngeal artery 
  • Lingual artery
  • Facial artery
  • Occipital artery 
  • Posterior auricular artery

Supply:[edit | edit source]

It gives supply to the neck, face and base of the skull.

Clinical relevance:[edit | edit source]

References:[edit | edit source]

  1. 1.0 1.1 External carotid artery, https://radiopaedia.org/articles/external-carotid-artery-1 (accessed 30 may 2017)