THE ylRTERIES. 287 



d. A. auricularis posterior (Fig. 119, o). — The posterior 

 auricular leaves the external carotid (7;/) opposite the middle of 

 the bulla tympani and beneath the submaxillary gland. It 

 passes about the base of the ear on its caudal and dorsal sides 

 outside of the deep muscles of the occipital region, but beneath 

 the auricular muscles, and sends several branches to the muscles 

 of the external ear, passing onto the caudal surface of the 

 concha. It sends also a large branch mediad to the muscles 

 of the occiput, especially to the temporal muscle, within which 

 it ramifies. A large branch (anterior auricular, Fig. 131, 2/) 

 passes from the caudal side of the concha craniodorsad, and 

 appears on the cranial side of the external ear, running along 

 the cranial margin of the auditory opening. 



e. A. temporalis superficialis (Fig. 119, />; Fig. 120, //). 

 — The superficial temporal artery arises from the external 

 carotid as the latter lies between the cartilaginous auditory 

 meatus and the caudal border of the masseter muscle. It 

 passes dorsad and gives off soon after its origin a muscular 

 branch to the masseter, and an auricular branch which passes 

 distad along the concha auris and ramifies over its cranial 

 surface. The superficial temporal itself passes onto the surface 

 of the temporal muscle (Fig. 120, 11), to which it gives 

 numerous branches. It extends to the caudal angle of the eye 

 (Fig. 131, s), where it divides. One branch passes into the 

 lower eyelid ; the larger branch passes along the dorsal side of 

 the eye, sending a branch into the orbit and small branches 

 onto the dorsal surface of the nose. 



/. A. maxillaris interna (Fig. 119, ;/; Fig. 120, /). — The 

 internal maxillary artery is the continuation of the external 

 carotid. It turns caudad at the caudal end of the mandible, 

 then passes craniad, lying dorsad of the pterygoid muscles 

 (Fig. 120, 10), and against the medial surface of the mandible. 

 It gives off the inferior alveolar artery (Fig. 120,/), then the 

 middle meningeal (/c), and then continuing mediad divides into 

 three or four branches. The branches redivide, and the twigs 

 form a complicated plexus, the carotid plexus (Fig. 120, /), 

 which surrounds the maxillary division of the fifth nerve near 

 its exit from the foramen rotundum. One of the larger 



