398 THE ARTERIES OF THE HEAD AND NECK. 



(b) The tonsillar branch ascends on the outer side of the stylo-glossus muscle, 

 and, penetrating the superior constrictor of the pharynx, terminates in small vessels 

 upon the tonsil and the side of the tongue near its root. This branch is often 

 represented by one or more twigs from the inferior palatine artery. 



(c) The glandular branches are several short vessels which enter the substance 

 of the submaxillary gland, while the facial artery is in contact with it. Small 

 muscular twigs are also furnished from this part of the artery to the stylo-hyoid, 

 internal pterygoid, and masseter. 



(d) The sulmental branch is the largest arising from the facial in the neck. 

 Leaving the artery just before it turns upwards to the face, this branch runs 

 forwards below the base of the jaw, on the surface of the mylo-hyoid muscle, and 

 gives branches to the surrounding muscles and the integuments, as well as others 

 which perforate the mylo-hyoid to anastomose with the sublingual artery. Much 

 diminished in size it turns over the border of the jaw near the symphysis, and 

 terminates in * branches to the depressor labii inferioris and levator menti muscles, 

 and the other structures of the chin and lower lip, forming anastomoses with the 

 inferior labial and mental arteries, and with the corresponding branch of the 

 opposite side. 



B. Facial branches. From the outer side of the artery in its facial portion 

 small offsets proceed which are distributed to the muscles masseter, buccinator, &c., 

 and anastomose with the transverse facial, buccal, and infraorbital arteries. The 

 larger branches are directed inwards, and are as follows : 



(a) The inferior labial branch arises soon after the facial artery has turned over 

 the lower border of the mandible, and, running forwards beneath the depressor 

 anguli oris, distributes branches to the skin and muscles of the lower lip, anas- 

 tomosing with the inferior coronary, sub mental, and mental arteries. This is 

 frequently an offset of the following branch. 



(b) The coronary artery of the lower lip (v). Arising at the outer border of the 

 depressor anguli oris, this branch takes a transverse and tortuous course beneath that 

 muscle, and between the orbicularis oris and the mucous membrane near the free 

 margin of the lip, and inosculates with the corresponding artery of the opposite 

 side. Small twigs from it supply the orbicular and depressor muscles, the glands, 

 and other structures of the lower lip ; and som3 descend towards the chin to 

 communicate there with other branches. 



(c) The coronary artery of the upper lip (v) arises beneath the zygoinaticus 

 major muscle. It runs across between the muscle and mucous membrane of the 

 upper lip, and inosculates with its fellow of the opposite side. In addition to 

 supplying the whole thickness of the upper lip, it gives two or three small branches 

 to the nose. One of these, named the artery of the septum narium, runs along the 

 border of the columna nasi, on which it ramifies as far as the point of the nose. 



(d) The lateral nasal artery, often replaced by two or three smaller branches, 

 turns inwards to the side of the nose, over which it ramifies, sending offsets to the 

 ala and the dorsum. It anastomoses with the nasal branch of the ophthalmic, with 

 the artery of the septum, and with the corresponding artery of the opposite side. 



(e) Angular artery. Under this name is recognised the slender terminal part 

 of the facial artery, which inosculates at the inner side of the orbit with the nasal 

 branch of the ophthalmic artery. 



Varieties. Origin and course. The facial artery frequently arises by a common trunk 

 with, the lingual. Occasionally it arises above its usual position, and then descends beneath 

 the angle of the jaw to assume its ordinary course. The arch formed by the facial artery 

 above the submaxillary gland often extends upwards (especially in old persons) for some dis- 

 tance beneath the ramus of the jaw, lying between the internal pterygoid and stylo-glossus 

 muscles. 



