288 



THE CIRCULATORY SYSTEM. 



branches of the plexus enters the skull through the orbital 

 fissure, lying beside the hypophysis; it divides in the manner 

 described below. 



Fig. I20. — Branches of External Carotid Artery. 

 a, common carotid; A, branch to larynx; c, internal carotid; J, lingual; e, ex- 

 ternal carotid; /, posterior auricular; g, external maxillary; h, superficial temporal; 

 /, internal maxillary;/, inferior alveolar; k^ middle meningeal; /, carotid plexus; vi, 

 branch to tempf)ral muscle; «, opluhalmic; o, infraorbital; /, lesser palatine, i, M. 

 constrictor pharyngis inferior; 2, M. sternothyreoideus; 3, M. sternohyoideus; 4, M. 

 tliyreohyoideus; 5, M. constrictor ])haryngis medius; 6, M. hyoglossus; 7, M. genio- 

 hyoideus; 8, M. genioglossus; 9, M. digaslricus; 10, Mm. ]iterygoidei externus and 

 internus (cut); II, M. temporalis (cut). 



Beyond the carotid plexus a main trunk which may be con- 

 sidered the continuation of the internal maxillary passes craniad, 

 lying on the dorsal surface of the external pterygoid muscle; 

 nearly opposite the molar tooth it divides into the infraorbital 

 (Fig. 120, o) and the sphenopalatine arteries. 



Branches of the internal maxillary artery and of the carotid 

 plexus : 



I . A. alveolaris inferior (Fig. 1 20, J). — The inferior alveo- 

 lar (or inferior dental) artery leaves the inferior maxillary just 



