

THE EXTERNAL CAROTID ARTERY 561 







cranium. The branches of the middle meningeal artery are distributed partly 

 to the dura mater, but chiefly to the bones; they anastomose with the arteries of 

 the opposite side, and with the anterior and posterior meningeal. 



The middle meningeal on entering the cranium gives off the following branches: (1) Numerous 

 small vessels supply the semilunar ganglion and the dura mater in this situation. (2) A superficial 

 petrosal branch enters the hiatus of the facial canal, supplies the facial nerve, and anastomoses 

 with the stylomastoid branch of the posterior auricular artery. (3) A superior tympanic artery 

 runs in the canal for the Tensor tympani, and supplies this muscle and the lining membrane of 

 the canal. (4) Orbital branches pass through the superior orbital fissure or through separate 

 canals in the great wing of the sphenoid, to anastomose with the lacrimal or other branches of 

 the ophthalmic artery. (5) Temporal branches pass through foramina in the great wing of the 

 sphenoid, and anastomose in the temporal fossa with the deep temporal arteries. 



The Accessory Meningeal Branch (ramus meningeus accessorius; small meningeal 

 or parvidural branch) is sometimes derived from the preceding. It enters the 

 skull through the foramen ovale, and supplies the semilunar ganglion and dura 

 mater. 



The Inferior Alveolar Artery (a. alveolaris inferior; inferior dental artery) descends 

 with the inferior alveolar nerve to the mandibular foramen on the medial surface 

 of the ramus of the mandible. It runs along the mandibular canal in the substance 

 of the bone, accompanied by the nerve, and opposite the first premolar tooth divides 

 into two branches, incisor and mental. The incisor branch is continued forward 

 beneath the incisor teeth as far as the middle line, where it anastomoses with the 

 artery of the opposite side; the mental branch escapes with the nerve at the mental 

 foramen, supplies the chin, and anastomoses with the submental and inferior 

 labial arteries. Near its origin the inferior alveolar artery gives off a lingual branch 

 which descends with the lingual nerve and supplies the mucous membrane of the 

 mouth. As the inferior alveolar artery enters the foramen, it gives off a mylohyoid 

 branch which runs in the mylohyoid groove, and ramifies on the under surface of 

 the Mylohyoideus. The inferior alveolar artery and its incisor branch during 

 their course through the substance of the bone give off a few twigs which are lost 

 in the cancellous tissue, and a series of branches which correspond in number to 

 the roots of the teeth : these enter the minute apertures at the extremities of the 

 roots, and supply the pulp of the teeth. 



Branches of the Second or Pterygoid Portion. 



Deep Temporal. Masseteric. 



Pterygoid. Buccinator. 



The Deep Temporal Branches, two in number, anterior and posterior, ascend 

 between the Temporalis and the pericranium; they supply the muscle, and anasto- 

 mose with the middle temporal artery; the anterior communicates with the lacrimal 

 artery by means of small branches which perforate the zygomatic bone and great 

 wing of the sphenoid. 



The Pterygoid Branches (rami pterygoidei) , irregular in their number and origin, 

 supply the Pterygoidei. 



The Masseteric Artery (a. masseterica) is small and passes lateralward through 

 the mandibular notch to the deep surface of the Masseter. It supplies the muscle, 

 and anastomoses with the masseteric branches of the external maxillary and with 

 the transverse facial artery. 



The Buccinator Artery (a. buccinatoria; buccal artery) is small and runs obliquely 

 forward, between the Pterygoideus internus and the insertion of the Temporalis, 

 to the outer surface of the Buccinator, to which it is distributed, anastomosing 

 with branches of the external maxillary and with the infraorbital. 



Branches of the Third or Pterygopajatine Portion. 



Posterior Superior Alveolar. Artery of the Pterygoid Canal. 



Infraorbital. Pharyngeal. 



Descending Palatine. Sphenopalatine. 



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