OCCIPITAL 



489 



anastoinoso with tlie corresponding l)ranches of the opposite side, and with the 

 posterior auricular, and the superficial temporal arteries. 



Branches of the Occipital Artery 



The branches of the occipital artery are: — (1) The sterno-mastoid; (2) the 

 posterior meningeal; (8) the auricular; (4) the mastoid; (5) the princeps cervicis; 

 (B) the communicating; (7) the muscular; and (8) the terminal. The sterno- 

 mastoid, ]K)sterior meningeal, auricular, and princeps cervicis are the four vessels 

 usually named amongst the above branches. 



Fig. 335. — Scheme of Right Occipital and Posterior Auricular Arteries. (Walsham. 



Anterior branch of pos- 

 terior auricular 



Posterior branch of pos- 

 terior auricular 



PAROTID GLANO 

 Sterno-mastoid, cut 



Auricular branch of 

 occipital 



Rectus capitis lateralis 



SPIXA L A CCESSOR Y 

 NERVE 

 Posterior auricular 



Internal jugular vein 

 Facial artery 



HYPOGLOSSAL X. 



Linf/iiiil artery 

 PXE I 'MOG A S TRI'C 

 NER VE 



Superior thyroid 



Common carotid 



External branch of 

 occipital 



Internal branch of 

 occipital 



Complexus 



Priceps cervicis 



Superior oblique 



Traehelo-mastoid, cut 

 Splenius capitis, cut 

 Meningeal branches 



Sterno^nastoid branch of 

 occipital 



Internal carotid 

 Sterno-mastoid 



External carotid 

 Trapezius 



(1) The Sterno-mastoid branch (fig. 335) usually comes off from the occipital 

 just after its origin from the carotid, and, passing downwards and backwards oyer 

 the loop of the hypoglossal nerve, enters the sterno-mastoid muscle in company with 

 the spinal accessory nerve. At times this artery is a distinct branch of the external 

 carotid. The hypoglossal nerve then as a rule loops round it instead of round the 

 occiytital. 



(2) The posterior meningeal branches (fig. 335), one or more in number, 

 are long slender vessels whirh leave the occipital artery as it crosses the internal 

 jugular vein, and, ascending along that vessel, ])ass with it through the jugular 

 foramen, and are distributed to the dura mater lining the posterior fossa of the 

 skull. 



