102 ANATOMY AND PHYSIOLOGY FOR NURSES 



The sternomastoid (superficial descending branch) is dis- 

 tributed to the sternomastoid muscle and lymphatic 

 glands. 



The posterior auricular artery arises from the external 

 carotid opposite the styloid process of the temporal bone. 

 It is distributed to the external ear and side of the head; 

 it anastomoses with the occipital and temporal arteries. 

 It gives off several branches to the muscles and furnishes 

 a branch to the parotid gland, as well as branches to the 

 mastoid cells of the temporal bone and tympanum of the 

 ear. 



The ascending pharyngeal artery is the smallest of the 

 branches of the external carotid. Its branches are divided 

 into three sets meningeal, to the dura mater; pharyn- 

 geal, to the pharynx, tonsils, soft palate; and a preverte- 

 bral branch, to the posterior part of the throat. 



The parotid arteries give off several branches that 

 supply the parotid gland; they also supply the integu- 

 ment of the face and the masse ter muscle. 



The temporal artery (superficial) is one of the terminal 

 branches of the external carotid, and divides into anterior 

 and posterior branches. The anterior branch runs for- 

 ward and is distributed to the temple; the posterior 

 anastomoses with the posterior auricular, with the occip- 

 ital, and with its fellow on the opposite side. The 

 branches given off from this artery are: the anterior 

 auricular, which are distributed to the pinna of the ear; 

 an orbital branch, which unites with the ophthalmic 

 artery; the transverse facial, which arises from the tem- 

 poral and unites with the facial and infra-orbital arteries; 

 and the middle temporal, which supplies the temporal 

 muscle, associated with the deep temporal artery. 



The internal maxillary artery is the larger terminal 

 branch of the external carotid ; it passes inward in the deep 

 structure of the face, at the inner side of the condyle of 



