224 THE VASCULAR SYSTEM. 



walls a more or less spongy structure; the muscle-fibres are not 

 transversely striated (Hoffmann). 



a. The lingual artery (Arteria lingualu, Arteria ftyoidea-lingualis, 

 Arteria liyoidea), (Figs. 143 I, 144 L] arises by two roots from the 

 inner surface of the carotid gland, and courses forwards and in- 

 wards, supplying- branches to the thyroid gland and the Mvscull 

 geniokyoidei, to the ventral surface of the hyoid ; another continues 

 forwards on the outer border of the M. Jiyoglossus to supply branches 

 to the hyoid and tongue. 



b. The carotid artery (Arteria carafes communis), (Figs. 143 ca, 

 144 <?") arises by several roots from the outer wall of the carotid 

 gland ; and passes over the Musculus petroJiyoideus I to the anterior 

 end of the oesophagus, round which it courses towards the vertebral 

 column, and then runs forwards to the base of the skull. The artery 

 then courses forwards, lying immediately above the mucous mem- 

 brane and underneath the transverse arm of the parasphenoid, which 

 it crosses about midway between its back and external end ; [at this 

 point the artery gives off two palatine arteries, then ascends in the 

 orbit to the origin of the M. pterygoidem, and divides into two 



Fig. 1 44. branches, the internal carotid artery and the 



ophthalmic artery]. The branches are : 



(i) The pharyngeal artery (Arteria pha- 

 ryngea ascend ens), (Fig. 145 p] which runs 

 towards the opening of the Eustachiaii 

 tube, distributes branches to the pharynx, 

 and anastomoses with the Arteria p/iaryn- 



Right carotid gland. . 7 . . , 



qeo-maxilfaris or the cutaneous artery, and 



c Carotid arch. y . . 



c' Carotid gland. with the Ramus inframaxillarix of the 



c" Carotid artery. ' . . , 



Lingual artery. OCClpltal artery. 



J2} [The posterior palatine artery (Arteria palatina posterior, 

 ;ehow) immediately divides into a number of small twigs to 

 supply the mucous membrane of the hinder and outer r n-t:- >(' tl< 

 gums.] 



(3) The anterior palatine artery (Arteria palatina anterior, Vir- 

 chow; Arteria palatina, Ecker), (Fig. 145^') runs forwards, between 

 the Muse, levator bulbi and the mucous membrane, with the Ramus 

 palatinus of the trigeminal nerve. [On reaching the palatine 

 bone, it curves outwards to the outer anterior angle of the orbit, 

 where it gives off a branch backwards along the upper jaw to 

 the hinder portion of the orbit.] In its course it supplies twigs 



