58 DISSECTION “OF “THE VASCULAR SYSTEM. 
are given off separately though close together, and 
pass forward in the neck, one on each side of the 
trachea. | 
Make a median tneeston along the ventral surface 
of the neck from the larynx to the sternum. Clear 
away the muscles lying on the trachea and the common 
carotids will be exposed. Lach gives off the following 
branches : 
5. The Superior Thyroid Artery, given off at the 
level of the thyroid body, to which it is chiefly dis- 
tributed. 
6. The Internal Carotid. At the level of the larynx 
the common carotid divides into the internal and ex- 
teraal carotid, 1) Che™ formers smuoh smaller same 
passes to the base of the skull, which it enters through 
the carotid foramen, being one of the arteries which 
supplies the brain with blood. 
7. the External Carotid “seems tom be athe direct 
continuation of the common carotid. It gives off the 
following branches : 
8. The Occipital Artery is a small branch arising 
close to the internal carotid and running parallel to it. 
It's distubuted to the exterionvot the skull ine the 
occipital region. 
g. The Posterior Auricular, the next branch, is given 
off from the outer side of the carotid, supplying the 
tissues on the posterior side of the ear. A short dis- 
tance from its origin it gives a branch to the sub- 
maxillary gland. 
10. The Lingual Artery, the third branch of the ex- 
ternal carotid, is a large artery distributed chiefly to 
the tongue. 
11. The Facial Artery, is a small branch given off a 
short distance beyond the lingual. 
