THE NECK, ANTERIOR. 121 



passes upward to the Glaserian fissure, and through this 

 to the tympanum. 



(3) The middle meningeal. The largest and most im- 

 portant branch of the internal maxillary artery. It arises 

 from the upper surface of the artery, in its situation between 

 the neck of the jaw and the internal lateral ligament, runs 

 upward behind the external pterygoid muscle, then between 

 the two roots of the auriculotemporal nerve, and enters the 

 foramen spinosum in the sphenoid bone. For the course 

 of the artery within the skull, see page 44. 



(4) The small meningeal. Often a branch from the 

 middle. Follows upward the inferior dental nerve and dis- 

 appears through the foramen ovale. It supplies the Gas- 

 serian ganglion, the cavernous sinus, and the adjacent dura. 



(5) The inferior dental artery. This accompanies the 

 nerve of the same name in its course through the inferior 

 dental canal, and appears through the mental foramen as 

 the mental artery. 



Before it enters the inferior dental canal the artery gives 

 off a branch (lingual) which follows the lingual nerve, and 

 another (the mylohyoid) which runs forward with the mylo- 

 hyoid nerve. 



Pterygoid, or second portion : 



(1) The masseteric. Reaches the deep surface of the 

 masseter muscle through the sigmoid notch of the jaw, 

 and in company with the corresponding nerve to the 

 muscle. 



(2) The deep temporal, anterior and posterior, are dis- 

 tributed to the under surface of the temporal muscle. They 

 and the deep temporal nerves will be found together. 



(3) The buccal. Follows the buccal nerve downward and 

 forward to supply the buccinator muscle and the skin and 

 mucous membrane of the cheek. 



