The head and neck tiii 



gland. The stylo-mastoid artery enters the aqueduct of Fallopius 

 through the stylo-mastoid foramen. It is distributed to the 

 tympanic cavity and the mastoid cells, and anastomoses with 

 the tympanic branch of the first part of the internal maxillary 

 artery. With this latter branch it forms a ring at the circum- 

 ference of the membrana tympani on its inner aspect. Within 

 the aqueduct of Fallopius the stylo-mastoid artery anastomoses 

 with the petrosal branch of the middle meningeal artery, which 

 branch enters the aqueduct through the hiatus Fallopii. The 

 auricular branch passes upwards beneath the retrahens auriculam 

 muscle, and furnishes branches to the inner aspect of the auricle, 

 some of which reach the outer surface by piercing the carti- 

 lage and by turning round its margin. The auricular branch 

 anastomoses with the posterior division of the superficial temporal 

 artery. The mastoid branch passes backwards over the mastoid 

 process to the occipital region, and anastomoses with the occipital 

 artery. 



The posterior auricular vein, of fairly large size, unites with the 

 posterior division of the temporo-maxillary vein near the angle of 

 the inferior max^'a, and by this union the external jugular vein is 

 formed. 



Ascending Pharsmgeal Artery. — ^This long, slender vessel arises 

 from the deep surface of the external carotid near its commence- 

 ment. It passes vertically upwards towards the base of the skull^ 

 lying very deeply upon the rectus capitis anticus major muscle, 

 and between the internal carotid artery and the pharynx. 



Branches. — ^These are as follows : 



T. Phar5mgeal. 3. Prevertebral. 



2. Palatine. 4. Tympanic. 



5. Meningeal. 



The 'pharyngeal branches are distributed to the -pharynx. The 

 palatine branch passes over the superior constrictor muscle of the 

 pharynx, and is distributed to the soft palate. Eustachian tube, and 

 tonsil. The prevertebral branches supply the prevertebral muscles. 

 The tympanic branch passes with the tympanic branch of the glosso- 

 pharyngeal nerve through the tympanic canaliculus in the petrous 

 part of the temporal bone, and so reaches the t5anpanum, to the 

 inner wall of which it is distributed. The meningeal arteries are 

 the terminal branches of the ascending pharyngeal, and are three in 

 number. One passes through the foramen lacerum medium, a 

 second through the jugular foramen, and a third through the anterior 

 condylar foramen, to be distributed to the dura mater in the vicinity 

 of these foramina. 



No specially-named vein accompanies the ascending pharyngeal 

 artery. 



For the superficial temporal and internal maxillary branches 

 of the external carotid artery, see pp. 1070 and 1202. 



The internal carotid artery will be found described on p. 1222. 



71 



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