THE EXTERNAL CAROTID ARTERY. 243 



Digital. Four in number; pass to the webs of 

 fingers and divide into two branches, which run along 

 the sides of the fingers and terminate in anastomotic 

 plexuses at the ends of the fingers. 



The superficial arch is the palmar continuation of the 

 tilnar ; it lies on a line drawn transversely across the hand 

 from the web of thumb; the deep palmar arch formed 

 by the radial lies higher up, a fact of surgical interest. 



THE COMMON CAROTID ARTERY. 



The common carotid artery on the right side is a 

 branch of the innominate ; on the left side it comes from 

 the arch of the aorta. It divides just below the hyoid 

 bone into the internal and external carotid. 



THE EXTERNAL CAROTID ARTERY. 



The external carotid artery passes up the neck, 

 giving off large branches that supply the neck, face, and 

 head with blood. It sends off eight branches. They are : 

 Three Anterior. 



Superior Thyroid. Arises on a level with the hyoid 

 bone, and sends off four branches : the hyoid, sterno- 

 mastoid, crico-thyroid, and superior laryngeal. 



Lingual. Arises above the superior thyroid ; sends 

 off the hyoid, sublingual, dorsalis lingua, and ranine. 



Facial Arises just below the angle of inferior max- 

 illary, runs through the submaxillary gland, crosses the 

 inferior border of inferior maxilla just in front of mas- 

 seter ; it is very tortuous, and gives off ten branches : 



IN THE NECK. FACIAL BRANCHES. 



Ascending palatine, Muscular, 



Tonsillar, Inferior labial, 



Submaxillary, Infei'ior coronary, 



Subinental. Superior coronary, 



Lateral nasal, 



Angular. 



