External carotid artery

Branches of external carotid artery

The branch of the carotid artery that supplies blood to the face and tongue and external parts of the head

Origin

The external carotid artery is a branch of the carotid artery which divides in to external and internal carotid arteries in the neck.

Branches

External carotid artery, or ECA, has about 8 branches as noted below:

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

Injuries of External carotid arteries

Because of the location, injuries to the carotids in general and external carotid in particular are complex and often serious or even deadly.

External carotid artery

Diseases of the external carotid arteries

Commonly, stenosis due to atherosclerosis plaque build up at the level of the bifurcation of the common carotid artery is seen leading to reduced blood flow or embolization.

Anomalies of the external carotid artery

• Anomalous course of the external carotid artery has been described

Frequently asked questions of external carotid artery

• How do you remember the branches of the external carotid artery?

• What does external carotid artery supply?

• What happens if you press on your carotid artery?

• What are the branches of the external carotid artery?

• How many branches of external carotid artery are there?

• What is the difference between internal and external carotid artery?

• Can you feel if your carotid artery is blocked?

• What is the most common anomaly of the circle of Willis?

• What branch of the external carotid artery supplies the chin jaw region with blood?

• What are the symptoms of a blocked artery in your neck?

• Can you live with only one carotid artery?

• Is 50 blockage in Carotid Artery bad?

• Why is the circle of Willis so important?

• Why does our blood pressure generally go up as we age?

• Where are 85% of aneurysms located?