FACIAL ARTERY. 349 



bone. Small branches are also distributed to the mucous membrane of the mouth, 

 and the inside of the gums. 



(d) The ranine artery, which may be considered from its size and direction the 

 continuation of the lingual artery. It runs forwards beneath the tongue, giving 

 numerous branches as it proceeds, covered by the mucous membrane, and resting on 

 the genio-hyo-glossus muscle. Having reached the tip of the tongue, it has been 

 said to anastomose with the corresponding artery of the other side ; but this is denied 

 by Hyrtl. In the last part of its course it lies quite superficially at the side of the 

 frsenum. 



PECULIARITIES. The origin of the lingual artery sometimes takes place from a 

 trunk common to it and the fiicial artery. It is occasionally joined with the superior 

 thyroid. 



Branches. The liyoid branch is often deficient; and it appears that this branch 

 varies in size inversely with the hyoid branch of the superior thyroid. 



The sublingual branch varies in size. It is sometimes derived from the facial 

 artery, and then perforates the mylo-hyoid muscle. 



The lingual artery has been seen to give off as unusual branches, the submental 

 and ascending palatine. 



III. FACIAL ARTERY. 



The facial artery (art. maxillaris externa), taking origin a little above 

 the lingual artery, is first directed obliquely forwards and upwards beneatli 

 the base of the maxillary bone ; then changing its direction, it passes 

 upwards over the base of the lower maxilla, in front of the masseter muscle. 

 Commencing here its course upon the face, it is directed forwards near to 

 the angle of the mouth, and ascends to the inner canthus of the eye, where 

 it ends by anastomosing with the ophthalmic artery. In its whole course 

 the artery is tortuous, a circumstance connected with the great mobility of 

 the parts on which it rests. 



In the neck, the facial artery, immediately after its origin, which is com- 

 paratively superficial, being covered only by the platysma and fascia, is 

 crossed by the digastric and stylo-hyoid muscles, and is then concealed 

 in the substance of the submaxillary gland. Emerging from the gland, it 

 turns over the border of the jaw, covered by the platysma : here the pulsation 

 of the artery is easily felt, and the circulation through it may be readily 

 controlled by pressure against the bone. In its progress over the face, it 

 is covered successively by the platysma and the zygomatic muscles, and 

 rests upon the buccinator, the levator anguli oris, and the levator labii 

 superioris. 



The facial vein is separated by a considerable interval from the artery 

 on the face. It takes nearly a straight course upwards, instead of in- 

 clining forwards near the angle of the mouth, and it is not so tortuous as 

 the artery. 



Branches of the portio dura nerve cross the vessel ; and the infraorbital 

 nerve is beneath it, separated by the fibres of the elevator of the upper lip. 



BRANCHES. A. Cervical branches. The following branches are derived 

 from the facial artery below the lower jaw : 



(a) The inferior or ascending palatine artery, a branch which ascends between the 

 stylo-glossus and stylo-pharyngeus muscles, and reaches the pharynx close to the 

 border of the internal pterygoid muscle. After having given small branches to the 

 tonsil, the styloid muscles, and the Eustachian tube, this artery divides near the 

 levator palati muscle into two branches, one of which follows the course of the cir- 

 cumflexus palati muscle, and is distributed to the soft palate and its glands, while the 

 other penetrates to the tonsil, and ramifies upon it with the branch to be next 

 described. The place of this artery upon the palate is often taken by the ascending 

 pharyngeal. 



