THE COMMON CAROTID ARTERIES. 589 



to 'the dura mater, and particularly to the falx cerebri, anastomoses on the 

 median line, below the process of the crista galli, with that of the 

 opposite side, and afterwards joins the anterior cerebral artery. 



The nasal branch traverses the cribriform plate of the ethmoid bone, and 

 divides into a number of ramuscules, which descend either on the ethmoidal 

 cells, or on the middle septum of the nose, where their ramifications form 

 arterial tufts of a pleasing aspect. 



8. BUCCAL ARTERY (Fig. 286, 37). The buccal artery emerges at an acute 

 angle from the internal maxillary, a short distance in front of the orbital 

 hiatus, and descends obliquely between the maxillary bone and the superior 

 insertion of the internal pterygoid muscle, terminating in the posterior 

 part of the molar glands, and in the alveo-labial and maxillo-labial muscles. 



In its course it gives some insignificant ramuscules to the pterygoid 

 muscles, as well as the masseter, and a long adipose branch to the cushion 

 in the temporal fossa. The latter sometimes comes directly from the 

 internal maxillary artery. 



9. STAPHYLIN ARTEKY (Fig. 286, 38). A very thin filament, which 

 accompanies the posterior palatine nerve in the groove of the same name, 

 and is distributed to the soft palate. 



10. SUPERIOR DENTAL ARTERY (Fig. 286, 39). This vessel, which is 

 also named the supermaxillo-dental artery, enters the superior dental canal, 

 arrives near its inferior or infra-orbital opening, and then divides into two 

 thin branches. One of these continues in the same course in the super- 

 maxillary bone, to supply arterial blood to the alveoli of the foremost 

 molars, the tusk, and the incisor teeth ; the other passes out of the canal 

 with the terminal divisions of the superior maxillary nerve, and com- 

 municates on the forehead with a ramuscule from the external maxillary 

 artery. 



On its way, the superior dental artery emits several collateral branches, 

 the majority of which commence in the interior of the dental canal, and 

 pass either to the alveoli of the posterior molars, the tissue of the bone, or 

 the membrane lining the sinuses. One of these branches the orbital, and 

 the largest escapes from the principal artery before its entrance into the 

 supermaxillary canal, creeps along the floor of the orbit towards the nasal 

 angle of the eye, whence it descends on the forehead, after giving off 

 some divisions to the caruncle of the eye, the lachrymal sac, and the lower 

 eyelid. 



11. NASAL OR SPHENO-PALATINE ARTERY. Situated, at first, at the 

 Bottom of the maxillary hiatus, this artery, springing at a right angle from the 

 parent trunk, traverses the nasal foramen, and separates into two terminal 

 branches an external and an internal in ramifying on the walls of the 

 nasal cavity. 



TERMINAL BRANCH OF THE INTERNAL MAXILLARY ARTERY. PALATO- 

 LABIAL OR PALATINE ARTERY. (Fig. 148, 3.) A continuation of the 

 internal maxillary, this vessel at first traverses the palatine canal, follows 

 the palatine groove to near the superior incisors, is then inflected inwards 

 above a small cartilaginous process (Fig. 148, 4), and unites on the median 

 line with the artery of the opposite side, forming an arch whose convexity 

 is forwards, and from which proceeds a single trunk that passes into the 

 incisive foramen. 



The palatine arteries, in their advance, furnish a series of branches 

 destined to the anterior part of the soft palate, the membranes on the roof of 

 the mouth, and the gums and upper teeth. 



