Transverse facial artery

The transverse facial artery (Latin for " Transverse artery of the face ") is an artery of the head.

It arises from the superficial temporal artery immediately before the auricle base. Afterwards it will be below the zygomatic arch over the face and is accompanied by the branches of the facial nerve. The transverse facial artery supplies the parotid gland, the masseter muscle and the facial skin. She has numerous anastomoses to the facial branches of the maxillary ( maxillary artery ) and the facial artery ( facial artery ).

In sheep and goats, the artery is transverse facial artery, the main supply vessel for the face, since in these animals the facial artery is not formed. In horses, it is used by the veterinarian to obtain arterial blood.