452 ARTERIES. 



tonsil, which it supplies, anastomosing with the tonsillar artery. These vessels 

 inosculate with the posterior palatine branch of the internal maxillary artery. 



The tonsillar branch (Fig. 279) passes up along the side of the pharynx, and, 

 perforating the Superior Constrictor, ramifies in the substance of the tonsil and 

 root of the tongue. 



The submaxillary consists of three or four large branches, which supply the 

 submaxillary gland, some being prolonged to the neighboring muscles, lym- 

 phatic glands, and integument. 



The submental, the largest of the cervical branches, is given off from the 

 facial artery, just as that vessel quits the submaxillary gland ; it runs forwards 

 upon the Mylo-hyoid muscle, just below the body of the jaV, and beneath the 

 Digastric ; after supplying the muscles attached to the jaw, and anastomosing 

 with the sublingual artery, it arrives at the symphysis of the chin, where it 

 divides into a superficial and a deep branch ; the former turns round the chin, 

 and, passing between the integument and Depressor Labii Inferioris, supplies 

 both, and anastomoses with the inferior labial. The deep branch passes beneath 

 the latter muscle and the bone, supplies the lip, and anastomoses with the in- 

 ferior labial and mental arteries. 



The muscular branches are distributed to the Internal Pterygoid, Masseter, 

 and Buccinator. 



The inferior labial passes beneath the Depressor Anguli Oris, to supply the 

 muscles and integument of the lower lip, anastomosing with the inferior coro- 

 nary and submental branches of the facial, and with the mental branch of the 

 inferior dental artery. 



The inferior coronary is derived from the facial artery near the angle of the 

 mouth ; it passes upwards and inwards beneath the Depressor Anguli Oris, and, 

 penetrating the Orbicularis muscle, runs in a tortuous course along the edge of 

 the lower lip between this muscle and the mucous membrane, inosculating with 

 the artery of the opposite side. This artery supplies the labial glands, the 

 mucous membrane, and muscles of the lower lip ; and anastomoses with the 

 inferior labial and mental branch of the inferior dental artery. 



The superior coronary is larger, and more tortuous in its course than the pre- 

 ceding. It follows the same course along the edge of the upper lip, lying be- 

 tween the mucous membrane and the Orbicularis, and anastomoses with the 

 artery of the opposite side. It supplies the textures of the upper lip, and gives 

 off in its course two or three vessels which ascend to the nose. One, named 

 the artery of the septum, ramifies on the septum of the nares as far as the point 

 of the nose ; another supplies the ala of the nose. 



The lateralis nasi is derived from the facial, as that vessel is ascending along 

 the side of the nose ; it supplies the ala and dorsum of the nose, anastomosing 

 with its fellow, the nasal branch of the ophthalmic, the artery of the septum, 

 and the infra-orbital. 



The angular artery is the termination of the trunk of the facial ; it ascends 

 to the inner angle of the orbit, accompanied by a large vein, the angular ; it 

 distributes some branches on the cheek which anastomose with the infra-orbital, 

 and, after supplying the lachrymal sac, and Orbicularis muscle, terminates by 

 anastomosing with the nasal branch of the ophthalmic artery. 



The anastomoses of the facial artery are very numerous, not only with the 

 vessels of the opposite side, but with other vessels from different sources ; viz., 

 with the sublingual branch of the lingual, with the mental branch of the infe- 

 rior dental as it emerges from the mental foramen, with the ascending pharyn- 

 geal and posterior palatine, and with the ophthalmic, a branch of the internal 

 carotid; it also inosculates with the transverse facial, and with the infraorbital. 



Peculiarities. The facial artery not unfrequently arises by a common trunk with the lingual. 

 This vessel also is subject to some variations in its size, and in the extent to which it supplies 

 the face. It occasionally terminates as the submental, and not unfrequently supplies the face 



