BRANCHES OF THE EXTERNAL CAROTID. 491 



4 



Cervical Branches. Facial Branches. 



Inferior or Ascending Palatine. Muscular. 



Tonsillar. Inferior Labial. 



Submaxillary. Inferior Coronary. 



Submental. Superior Coronary. 



Muscular. Lateral Nasal. 



Angular. 



The inferior or ascending palatine (Fig. 289) passes up between the Stylo- 

 glossus and Stylo-pharyngeus to the outer side of the pharynx, along which it is 

 continued between the Superior constrictor and the Internal pterygoid to near the 

 base of the skull. It supplies the neighboring muscles, the tonsil, and Eustachian 

 tube, and divides, near the Levator palati, into two branches : one follows the 

 course of the Levator palati, and, winding over the upper border of the Superior 

 constrictor, supplies the soft palate and the palatine glands, anastomosing with its 

 fellow of the opposite side and with the posterior palatine branch of the internal 

 maxillary artery ; the other pierces the Superior constrictor and supplies the tonsil, 

 anastomosing with the tonsillar and ascending pharyngeal arteries. 



The tonsillar branch (Fig. 289) passes up between the Internal pterygoid and 

 Stylo-glossus, and then ascends along the side of the pharynx, perforating the 

 Superior constrictor, to ramify in the substance of the tonsil and root of the 

 tongue. 



The submaxillary or glandular branches consist of three or four large vessels, 

 which supply the submaxillary gland, some being prolonged to the neighboring 

 muscles, lymphatic glands, and integument. 



The submental, the largest of the cervical branches, is given off from the facial 

 artery just as that vessel quits the submaxillary gland : it runs forward upon the 

 Mylo-hyoid muscle, just below the body of the jaw and beneath the Digastric; 

 after supplying the surrounding muscles, and anastomosing with the sublingual 

 artery by branches which perforate the Mylo-hyoid muscle, it arrives at the sym- 

 physis of the chin, where it turns over the border of the jaw and divides into a 

 superficial and a deep branch ; the former passes between the integument and 

 Depressor labii inferioris, supplies both, and anastomoses with the inferior labial. 

 The deep branch passes between the latter muscle and the bone, supplies the lip, 

 and anastomoses with the inferior labial and mental arteries. 



The muscular branches are distributed to the Internal pterygoid and Stylo-hyoid 

 in the neck, and to the Masseter and Buccinator on the face. 



The inferior labial passes beneath the Depressor anguli oris. to supply the 

 muscles and integument of the lower lip, anastomosing with the inferior coronary 

 and submental branches of the facial, and with the mental branch of the inferior 

 dental artery. 



The inferior coronary is derived from the facial artery, near the angle of the 

 mouth : it passes upward and inward beneath the depressor anguli oris. and, pen- 

 etrating the Orbicularis oris muscle, runs in a tortuous course along the edge of 

 the lower lip between this muscle and the mucous membrane, inosculating with 

 the artery of the opposite side. This artery supplies the labial glands, the mucous 

 membrane, and muscles of the lower lip, and anastomoses with the inferior labial 

 and the mental branch of the inferior dental artery. 



The superior coronary is larger and more tortuous in its course than the pre- 

 ceding. It follows the same course along the edge of the upper lip, lying between 

 the mucous membrane and the Orbicularis oris, and anastomoses with the artery 

 of the opposite side. It supplies the textures of the upper lip, and gives off in its 

 course two or three vessels which ascend to the nose. One, named the inferior 

 artery of the septum, ramifies on the septum of the nares as far as the point of the 

 nose ; another, the artery of the ala, supplies the ala of the nose. 



, The lateralis nasi is derived from the facial, as that vessel is ascending along 

 the side of the nose ; it supplies the ala and dorsum of the nose, anastomosing 



