External carotid
External Carotid Artery
The External Carotid Artery (pronounced: ex-ter-nal ka-rot-id ar-ter-y) is one of the two main divisions of the Common Carotid Artery, the other being the Internal Carotid Artery.
Etymology
The term "External Carotid" is derived from the Greek words "eksternos" meaning "outside" and "karotid" meaning "sleep-inducing", referring to the artery's location and the effect of its compression.
Anatomy
The External Carotid Artery begins at the upper border of the Thyroid Cartilage and, taking a slightly curved course, passes upward and forward, and then inclines backward to the space behind the neck of the Mandible, where it divides into the Superficial Temporal and Maxillary Artery.
Branches
The branches of the External Carotid Artery are the Superior Thyroid Artery, Lingual Artery, Facial Artery, Occipital Artery, Posterior Auricular Artery, Ascending Pharyngeal Artery, Superficial Temporal Artery, and Maxillary Artery.
Function
The External Carotid Artery supplies blood to the face and neck. Each of its branches has a specific area of the face or neck that it supplies with oxygenated blood.
Related Terms
- Common Carotid Artery
- Internal Carotid Artery
- Thyroid Cartilage
- Mandible
- Superficial Temporal
- Maxillary Artery
- Superior Thyroid Artery
- Lingual Artery
- Facial Artery
- Occipital Artery
- Posterior Auricular Artery
- Ascending Pharyngeal Artery
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on External carotid
- Wikipedia's article - External carotid
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