LINGUAL ARTERY. 303 



Branches* Hyoid, 



Superior laryngeal, 

 Inferior laryngeal, 

 Muscular. 



The Hyoid branch passes forwards beneath the thyro-hyoideus, and 

 is distributed to the depressor muscles of the os hyoides near their 

 insertion. 



The Superior laryngeal pierces the thyro-hyoidean membrane, in 

 company with the superior laryngeal nerve, and supplies the mucous 

 membrane and muscles of the larynx, sending a branch upwards to 

 the epiglottis. 



The Inferior laryngeal is a small branch which crosses the crico- 

 thyroidean membrane along the lower border of the thyroid cartilage. 

 It sends branches through the membrane to supply the mucous lining 

 of the larynx, and inosculates with its fellow of the opposite side. 



The Muscular branches are distributed to the depressor muscles of 

 the os hyoides and larynx. One of these branches crosses the sheath 

 of the common carotid to the under surface of the sterno-mastoid 

 muscle. 



2. The LINGUAL ARTERY ascends obliquely from its origin, it then 

 passes forwards parallel with the os hyoides ; thirdly, it ascends to 

 the under surface of the tongue ; and fourthly, runs forward in a ser- 

 pentine direction to its tip, under the name of the ranine artery, where 

 it terminates by inosculating with its fellow of the opposite side. 



Relations. The Jirst part of its course rests upon the middle con- 

 strictor muscle of the pharynx, being covered in by the tendon of the 

 digastricus and the stylo-hyoid muscle ; the second is situated be- 

 tween the middle constrictor and hyo-glossus muscle, the latter sepa- 

 rating it from the hypoglossal nerve ; in the third part of its course it 

 lies between the hyo-glossus and genio-hyo-glossus ; and in the fourth 

 (ranine) rests upon the lingualis to the tip of the tongue. 



Branches. Hyoid, 



Dorsalis linguae, 

 Sublingual. 



The Hyoid branch runs along the upper border of the os hyoides, 

 and is distributed to the elevator muscles of the os hyoides near their 

 origin, inosculating with its fellow of the opposite side. 



The Dorsalis linguae ascends along the posterior border of the 

 hyo-glossus muscle to the dorsum of the tongue, and is distributed to 

 the tongue, the fauces, and epiglottis, anastomosing with its fellow of 

 the opposite side. 



The Sublingual branch, sometimes considered as a branch of bifurca- 

 tion of the lingual, runs along the anterior border of the hyo-glossus, 

 and is distributed to the sublingual gland and to the muscles of the 



