External carotid artery

Arteria carotis externa

CardiovascularBlood vesselsHeadLeft and right

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What it is

Rises from the carotid bifurcation in front of the internal carotid and ascends behind the angle of the mandible into the parotid gland, ending as the superficial temporal and maxillary arteries. Shown with its facial artery (winding over the jaw to the corner of the mouth and side of the nose) and maxillary branches.

Function

Supplies the face, scalp, jaws, teeth, tongue, thyroid and the dura (via the middle meningeal artery).

Size

~4–5 mm diameter at its origin; eight named branches.

Clinical note

The facial pulse is felt where the artery crosses the jaw in front of masseter and the superficial temporal pulse just in front of the ear; a tear of its middle meningeal branch causes an extradural haematoma.