External carotid

From WikiMD's Wellness Encyclopedia

External Carotid Artery

The External Carotid Artery is one of the two main divisions of the Common Carotid Artery, the other being the Internal Carotid Artery. It supplies blood to the face and neck.

Anatomy[edit | edit source]

The External Carotid Artery begins at the upper border of the thyroid cartilage, and, taking a slightly curved course, passes forward and upward, and then inclines backward to the space behind the neck of the mandible, where it divides into the superficial temporal and maxillary artery within the parotid gland.

Branches[edit | edit source]

The branches of the External Carotid Artery are:

Clinical Significance[edit | edit source]

The External Carotid Artery and its branches are often affected by atherosclerosis, which can lead to stroke and other serious health problems. It can also be involved in carotid artery dissection and carotidynia.

See Also[edit | edit source]

References[edit | edit source]

External carotid Resources
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Contributors: Prab R. Tumpati, MD