378 ARTERIES. 



Rectus capitis anticus major. Its branches maybe subdivided into three sets: 

 1. Those directed outwards to supply muscles and nerves. 2. Those directed 

 inwards to the pharynx. 3. Meningeal branches. 



The external branches are numerous small vessels, which supply the Recti antici 

 muscles, the sympathetic, hypoglossal and pneumogastric nerves, and the lymphatic 

 glands of the neck, anastomosing with the ascending cervical artery. 



The pharyngeal branches are three or four in number. Two of these descend 

 to supply the middle and inferior Constrictors and the Stylo-pharyngeus, ramifying 

 in their substance and in the mucous membrane lining them. The largest of the 

 pharyngeal branches passes inwards, running upon the Superior constrictor, and 

 sends ramifications to the soft palate, Eustachian tube, and tonsil, which take the 

 place of the ascending palatine branch of the facial artery, when that vessel is of 

 small size. 



The meningeal branches consist of several small vessels, which pass through 

 foramina in the base of the skull, to supply the dura mater. One, the posterior 

 meningeal, enters the cranium through the foramen lacerum posterius with the 

 internal jugular vein. A second passes through the foramen lacerum basis cranii ; 

 and occasionally a third through the anterior condyloid foramen. They are all 

 distributed to the dura mater. 



The TEMPORAL ARTERY (fig. 209), the smaller of the two terminal branches 

 of the external carotid, appears, from its direction, to be the continuation of that 

 vessel. It commences in the substance of the parotid gland, in the interspace 

 between the neck of the condyle of the lower jaw and the external meatus ; cross- 

 ing over the root of the zygoma, immediately beneath the integument, it divides 

 about two inches above the zygomatic arch into two branches, an anterior and a 

 posterior. 



The anterior temporal inclines forwards over the forehead, supplying the 

 muscles, integument, and pericranium in this region, and anastomoses with the 

 supra-orbital and frontal arteries, its branches being directed from before back- 

 wards. 



The posterior temporal, larger than the anterior, curves upwards and back- 

 wards along the side of the head, lying above the temporal fascia, and inosculates 

 with its fellow of the opposite side, and with the posterior auricular and occipital 

 arteries. 



The temporal artery, as it crosses the zygoma, is covered by the Attrahens 

 aurem muscle, and by a dense fascia given off' from the parotid gland ; it is also 

 usually crossed by one or two veins, and accompanied by branches of the facial 

 and temporo-auricular nerves. Besides some twigs to the parotid gland, the 

 articulation of the jaw, and the Masseter muscle, its branches are the 



Transverse facial. Middle temporal. 



Anterior auricular. 



The transverse facial is given off from the temporal before that vessel quits the 

 parotid gland ; running forwards through its substance, it passes transversely 

 across the face, between Stenon's duct and the lower border of the zygoma, and 

 divides on the side of the face into numerous branches, which supply the parotid 

 gland, the Masseter muscle, and the integument, anastomosing with the facial 

 and infra-orbital arteries. This vessel rests on the Masseter, and is accompanied 

 by one or two branches of the facial nerve. 



The middle temporal artery arises immediately above the zygomatic arch, and, 

 perforating the temporal fascia, supplies the Temporal muscle, anastomosing with 

 the deep temporal branches of the internal maxillary. It occasionally gives off 

 an orbital branch, which runs along the upper border of the zygoma, between the 

 two layers of the temporal fascia, to the outer angle of the orbit ; it supplies the 

 Orbicularis, and anastomoses with the lachrymal and palpebral branches of the 

 ophthalmic artery. 



