THE VESSELS. 299 



in the trigonum cervicale superius vertically as high as the m. di- 

 gastricus : then backwards and outwards as far as the angle of 

 the inferior jaw ; then again vertically along the posterior border 

 of ramus mandibulce. Circumference : inferior to that of the 

 carotis internet (in children) ; length, two and a half to three and 

 a half inches. Situation : at the commencement covered by F. 

 facialis commun., and platysmam., only; then behind mm. di- 

 gastricus (the posterior belly), and stylo-hyoideus (before m. stylo- 

 glossus), and n. hypoglossus ; lastly, within the Parotis (and quite 

 above between Parotis and lower jaw). 



Collateral branches ; three anterior : A. thyeoidea super., lingua- 

 Us maxillar. extern, s. facialis. 



2 Posterior : Aa. occipitalis and auricularis. 



1 Internal : A. pharyngea. 



2 Terminal branches : Artt. temporalis and maxillar. interna. 

 The three anterior and the internal arise below the m. digastri- 



cus ; the two posterior before the entrance into Parotis. 



543. The anterior branches of the Carotis externa. 



1. Thyreoidea superior, the superior thyroideal artery supplies the Larynx 

 and thyroid gland with blood. 



Or. : close above (sometimes at) the point of division of the carol, commun. 

 Course : at first upwards, directly afterwards downwards, several times 

 curved to the superior cornu of the thyroid gland. Position : at first only 

 behind the skin, then behind mm, omo-, sterno-, hyoideus, and sterno-thy- 

 reoideus. 



Branches: 



a. Art. laryngea superior, the superior laryngeal artery, arises, sometimes, 

 from the carotis externa. Course : transverse between m. hyo-thyreoid. 

 and memb. hyo-thyreoid, perforates the last (with N. laryng. sup.) gives a 

 superior branch to the Epiglottis and a descending for m. thyreo-aryt&- 

 noid, and the mucous membrane. 



b. Art. laryngea inf. s. ram. cricothyreoideus (Cruveilhier), arises from the 

 internal terminal branch, passes transversely on the inferior border of the . 

 thyroid cartilage, anastomoses with that of the other side, and ramifies on 

 the mucous membrane and the muscles of the larynx. 



c. Earn, sterno-mastoideus, arises under a, and passes away downwards 

 over carotis communis on the posterior surface of m. sterno-cleido-mas- 

 toideus. 



d. Kami thyreoidei, three terminal branches. The first passes between thy- 

 roid gland and trachea, the second along the external border, the third in 

 the central line before the thyroid gland. 



2. Lingualis, the lingual artery. Origin : on a plane with the great cornu 



