284 



SUPERIOR THYROID ARTERY. 



Brandies. The branches of the external carotid are eleven in number, 

 anc 1 may be arranged into four groups, viz. 



Anterior. Posterior. 



1. Superior thyroid, 4. Mastoid, 



2. Lingual, 5. Occipital, 



3. Facial. 6. Posterior auricular. 



Superior. 



7. Ascending pharyngeal, 



8. Parotidean, 



9. Transverse facial. 



Terminal. 



10. Temporal, 



11. Internal maxillary. 



The anterior branches arise from the commencement of the external 

 carotid, within a short distance of each other. The lingual and facial 

 bifurcate, not unfrequently, from a common trunk. 



1. The SUPERIOR THYROID ARTERY (the first of the branches of the ex- 

 ternal carotid) curves downwards to the thyroid gland- to which it is dis- 

 tributed, anastomosing with its fellow of the opposite side, and with the 

 inferior thyroid arteries. In its course it passes beneath the omo-hyoid, 

 sterno-thyroid, and sterno-hyoid muscles. 



Fig. 146.* 



Branches. Hyoid, 



Superior laryngenl, 

 Inferior laryngeal, 

 Muscular. 



The carotid arteries, with the branches of the external carotid. 1. The common 

 carotid. 2. The external carotid. 3. The internal carotid. 4. The carotid foramen in 

 the petrous portion of the temporal bone. 5. The superior thyroid artery. 6. The lin- 

 gual artery. 7 The facial artery. 8. The mastoid artery. 9. The o<.,r pital. 10. The 

 posterior auriculai. 11. The transverse facial artery. 12. The internal maxillary 

 13. The temporal. 14. The ascending phar/ngeal artery. 



