External Carotid Artery

Question 1

What are the branches of the external carotid artery?

Answer 1

SALFOPMS = Superior thyroid, ascending pharyngeal, lingual, facial, occipital, posterior auricular, maxillary, superior temporal

Question 2

What branches of the external carotid can you expect to see arising in the carotid triangle?

Answer 2

SALFO = Superficial thyroid, ascending pharyngeal, lingual, facial and occipital branches normally arise w/in the carotid triangle

Question 3

Describe some defining characteristics for the superior thyroid artery?

Answer 3

1. Branches off the anterior aspect of the ECA directly following the bifurcation.
2. Descends toward the thyroid gland along the lateral border of the thyrohyoid muscle
3. Gives off Superior Laryngeal branch, which joins the internal branch of the superior laryngeal laryngeal nerve of CN X and pierces the thyrohyoid membrane.

Question 4

The superior thyroid artery anastomoses with the inferior thyroid artery. What is the source of this artery?

Answer 4

The inferior thyroid artery arises from the thyrocervical trunk, which arises from the subclavian artery. Note: The inferior thyroid artery runs medially deep to the sympathetic trunk and carotid sheath to supply the thyroid

Question 5

Describe some defining characteristics for the ascending pharyngeal artery?

Answer 5

1. Branches off the posterior ECA just above the bifurcation

2. Ascends vertically along the lateral side of the pharynx

Question 6

Describe some defining characteristics for the lingual artery?

Answer 6

1. Arises from anterior ECA at the level of the greater horn of the hyoid
2. Loops upward and passes anteriorly, deep to the mandible & hyoglossus muscle to reach the oral cavity

Question 7

Describe some defining characteristics for the facial artery?

Answer 7

1. Arises from anterior ECA usually 1 cm superior to the lingual artery
2. Passes anteriorly along the border of the submandibular gland en route to the superficial face

Question 8

What are the branches of the facial artery?

Answer 8

Go And Teach Science (cervical branches); And I’ll Learn Something (facial branches)

1. Glandular
2. Ascending pallatine
3. Tonsillar
4. Submandibular
5. ANGULAR
6. INFERIOR LABIAL
7. Lateral nasal
8. SUPERIOR LABIAL

Question 9

Describe some defining characteristics for the occipital artery?

Answer 9

1. Arises posteriorly, nearly opposite to facial, from the ECA
2. The hypoglossal Nerve winds around the occipital artery at its origin, from deep to superficial, and turns medially toward the tongue
3. Dives deep to SCM & splenius musculature as it courses to the posterior scalp via the occipital groove, which lies just medial to the mastoid process.

Question 10

Describe some defining characteristics for the posterior auricular artery?

Answer 10

1. Doesn’t arise in carotid triangle, instead arises from the posterior aspect of the ECA, superior to the posterior belly of the digastric, usually just superior to the angle of the mandible.
2. Courses posterosuperiorly to supply scalp behind the ear and the posterior auricle itself