198 



Car otis internet,. 



542. Course and Ramification of the Internal 

 Carotid and the Vertebral Artery. 



The internal carotid artery, Carotis internet., which lies at first to 

 the outer side of the external carotid, is separated from the latter by the MM. stylo- 

 fjlossus and stylo-pliaryngeus. It is remarkable for the number of curvatures that 

 it presents ; in its cervical portion it occasionally presents one or two flexures 

 near the base of the skull, whilst through the rest of its extent it describes a 

 double curvature which resembles the italic s placed horizontally. During its 

 course in the carotid canal and cavernous sinus, it sends small branches to the 

 mucous membrane of the tympanic cavity (Ramuhts curotico-tympanicus], to the 

 Gasserian ganglion, to the dura mater and to the Tentorium cerebelli. 



