11. Common carotid, ECA - anterior + posterior branches

Where does the right common carotid artery arise?

Brachiocephalic trunk.

Where does the left common carotid artery arise?

Aortic arch.

What is the course of the common carotid artery?

Ascends beside the trachea → carotid triangle → bifurcates at C4 / upper border of thyroid cartilage.

What does the common carotid bifurcate into?

Internal + external carotid arteries.

Does the common carotid give branches in the neck?

No.

What structures travel with the common carotid in the carotid sheath?

Internal jugular vein + vagus nerve.

What is the general course of the external carotid artery (ECA)?

Carotid triangle → behind stylohyoid & posterior belly of digastric → parotid/retromandibular region → divides near neck of mandible.

What are the 8 branches of the ECA?

Anterior: Superior thyroid, Lingual, Facial
Medial: Ascending pharyngeal
Posterior: Occipital, Posterior auricular
Terminal: Maxillary, Superficial temporal

What is the superior thyroid artery?

First anterior branch of ECA.

What is superior thyroid artery course?

Descends to anterior surface of thyroid.

What are its main branches? superior thyroid artery

• Superior laryngeal

• thyroid branches

• infrahyoid + SCM + cricothyroid.

What is important about the superior laryngeal artery?

Pierces thyrohyoid membrane with internal superior laryngeal nerve → supplies larynx.

Where does the lingual artery arise?

ECA at level of lesser horn of hyoid.

What is the key course of the lingual artery?

Pirogov triangle → deep to hyoglossus → tongue.

What are the main branches of the lingual artery?

• Sublingual

• deep lingual

• dorsal lingual

What does the sublingual artery supply?

Sublingual gland + floor of mouth.

What is the course of the deep lingual artery?

Inside tongue → runs anteriorly to apex

What is the key course of the facial artery?

Submandibular region → crosses inferior border of mandible anterior to masseter → tortuous course across face → medial angle of eye.

What is the terminal branch of the facial artery?

Angular artery.

What are the major branches of the facial artery?

• Ascending palatine,

• submental

• inferior labial,

• superior labial,

• lateral nasal,

• angular artery

What does the ascending palatine artery supply?

Pharynx + palate

What does the submental artery supply?

Floor of mouth.

What do the inferior and superior labial arteries supply?

Lower and upper lips.

What does the lateral nasal artery supply?

Nasal ala.

What does the angular artery supply?

Medial angle of eye.

What does the angular artery anastomose with?

Ophthalmic/infraorbital arterial branches.

What is the course of the ascending pharyngeal branch?

Ascends between ECA and ICA.

What does it mainly supply?

Pharynx + middle ear + dura.

What are its major branches?

Pharyngeal + inferior tympanic + posterior meningeal.

How does the inferior tympanic artery enter the tympanic cavity?

Tympanic canaliculus.

How does the posterior meningeal artery enter the skull?

Jugular foramen.

What is the course of the occipital artery?

Along posterior belly of digastric → behind mastoid process → occipital region.

What does the occipital artery mainly supply?

Occipital scalp + nuchal muscles.

What are important branches of the occipital artery?

SCM + glandular/parotid + auricular branches.

What is the course of the posterior auricular artery?

Behind posterior belly of digastric → behind auricle, anterior to mastoid.

What does it supply?

Auricle + mastoid region/cells + parotid + middle ear.

What are its main branches?

Parotid + auricular + stylomastoid.

Where does the stylomastoid artery travel?

Stylomastoid foramen → facial canal (with CNVII)

What important branch arises from the stylomastoid artery?

Posterior tympanic artery → tympanic cavity.