THE HEAD AND NECK iii<j 



backwards, in company with the hypoglossal nerve, over the 

 hyo-glossus muscle, recei\'ing tributaries from the surrounding 

 structures ; (2) two vence comites accompanying the lingual artery ; 

 and (3) the dorsal lingual veins, which originate in a plexus beneath 

 the mucous membrane over the posterior third of the organ. These 

 three sets of veins may join into a common trunk, called the lingual 

 vein, which opens into the internal jugular vein, or they may 

 terminate independently in that vein. 



Lingual Lymphatic Glands. — These glands, which axe of small 

 size, he upon the outer surfaces of the genio-hyo-glossus and hyo- 

 glossus muscles, along the ranine vein. They are really small gland- 

 stations, lying in the course of the lymphatic vessels of the tongue, 

 as these pass to join the deep cervical glands. 



Facial Artery. — ^The facial artery arises from the front part of 

 the external carotid in the carotid triangle, immediately above the 

 lingual artery, or sometimes in common with that vessel. It 

 passes upwards and forwards, beneath the hypoglossal nerve and 

 the posterior belly of the digastric and stylo-hyoid muscles, into 

 the submaxillary triangle. Thereafter it becomes embedded in 

 a groove on the upper and back part of the submaxillary gland, its 

 course in this situation being horizontally forwards. Having 

 emerged fiom this groove, it describes a sharp bend and mounts 

 upwards over the base of the inferior maxilla, in front of the 

 masseter muscle. The vessel then enters upon the facial part of 

 its course, for a description of which see p. 1178. 



Branches. — Four branches arise from the cervical part of the 

 facial artery, as follows : 



1. Inferior palatine. 3. Glandular, 



2. Tonsillar. 4. Submental. 



The inferior palatine artery passes upwards between the stylo- 

 glossus and stylo-pharyngeus muscles, and then over the upper 

 border of the superior constrictor of the pharynx, along with the 

 levator palati muscle. It is distributed to the soft palate, tonsil, 

 and Eustachian tube. The tonsillar artery passes upwards between 

 the stylo-glossus and internal pterygoid muscles, and, after piercing 

 the superior constrictor muscle, it is distributed to the tonsil and 

 the posterior part of the side of the tongue. The glandular branches 

 are distributed to the submaxillary gland. The submental artery 

 arises from the facial as it is about to mount over the base 

 of the inferior maxilla, and it passes forwards upon the mylo- 

 hyoid muscle. It gives branches to the submaxillary gland and 

 mylo-hyoid muscle, some of the branches piercing that muscle to 

 reach the sublingual gland and anastomose with the sublingual 

 artery. Near the symphysis it ascends over the base of the in- 

 ferior maxilla, and supplies the muscles of the lower Lip and the 

 integument of the chin. The terminal part of the vessel anasto- 

 moses with the mental and inferior labial arteries, and with its 

 fellow of the opposite side. 



