External carotid artery

The external carotid artery (ACE ) or external carotid artery is used to supply the head ( skull and soft tissue) and the upper neck organs ( larynx, thyroid, throat) and the dura mater.

Course

It is caused by breakdown of the common carotid artery ( common carotid artery ) to the so-called bifurcation. The other, usually stronger caliber, Branch is the internal carotid artery ( internal carotid artery ) that supplies the brain. The external carotid artery is usually in front ( anterior ) of the internal carotid artery. In humans, it runs between the musculus stylopharyngeus, the musculus stylohyoid and the posterior part of the digastric muscle and is thereby over - and under crossed by the glossopharyngeal nerve from the hypoglossal nerve. In the angle of the jaw it divides into its terminal branches, the maxillary artery and the superficial temporal artery.

Main branches of the external carotid artery

• Superior thyroid artery
• Lingual artery
• Facial artery
• Ascending pharyngeal artery
• Ramus sternocleidomastoid
• Occipital artery
• Posterior auricular artery
• Superficial temporal artery
• Maxillary artery

Comparative Anatomy

In some mammals (ruminants, pigs), the out-of cranial portion of the internal carotid artery forms after birth back again, so that the external carotid artery at this also takes care of the bulk of the supply to the brain.