THE NECK, ANTERIOR. 93 



fascia, parotid gland ; the sternomastoid overlaps the 

 artery to a greater or less extent from behind forward. 



It is crossed from above downward by the branches of the 

 facial nerve, the temporomaxillary vein, stylohyoid, and 

 posterior belly of the digastric muscles, the facial and lingual 

 veins, and the hypoglossal nerve. 



Internal, or centrally, the internal carotid, from which 

 it is separated by the stylopharyngeus, styloglossus 

 muscles, the glossopharyngeal, and pharyngeal branch 

 of pneumogastric nerves, the posterior part of the paro- 

 tid gland, and the stylomastoid ligament. The superior 

 laryngeal nerve lies behind both internal and external 

 carotids. 



Anterior, or in front, the hyoid bone, pharynx, stylo- 

 maxillary ligament, ramus of jaw. 



Posterior, or behind, the internal carotid for a short dis- 

 tance at its beginning, the hypoglossal nerve, the occipital 

 artery, mastoid process. 



Branches. (i) The Superior Thyroid : This is the first 

 branch from the anterior surface of the artery. 



Its course is forward beneath the great cornu of the 

 hyoid bone, then downward and forward to the upper part 

 of the thyroid gland. 



In its course it gives off branches to the larynx, pharynx, 

 thyroid gland, trachea, and oesophagus ; also, muscular 

 branches to the sternomastoid, sternohyoid, sternothyroid, 

 thyrohyoid, and inferior constrictor. 



The named branches are (a) the hyoid, which passes 

 transversely forward between the hyoid bone and the thy- 

 roid cartilage. (&) The sternomastoid, to that muscle. 

 This branch crosses the carotid sheath, (c) The superior 

 laryngeal, which accompanies the nerve of the same name 

 into the interior of the larynx, (d) The cricothyroid. Of 



