Origin |
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|---|---|
Course |
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Bifurcation |
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Supplies | 1. Internal carotid artery
2. External carotid artery
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Common carotid artery
![Common carotid artery]()
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Internal carotid artery
Origin
- Branch of the common carotid artery (bifurcatio carotidis)
Caudocephalad course
1. Cervical portion (pars cervicalis)
- Segment between the origin of the common carotid artery and the base of the skull
- Enters the cranial cavity via the carotid canal
- Does not give off any branches
2. Petrosal portion (pars petrosa)
- Courses in the petrosal portion of the temporal bone
- Gives off smaller branches to the tympanic cavity and pterygoid canal
3. Cerebral portion (pars cerebralis)
- Courses in the subarachnoid space
- Perforates the dura mater
- Branches into the anterior and middle cerebral arteries
- The anterior cerebral artery communicates with its contralateral counterpart via the anterior communicating artery
The circulus arteriosus cerebri (of Willis) is an arterial vascular ring at the base of the brain and supplies blood to the brain. It comprises the following vessels – from anterior to posterior:
- Anterior communicating artery (azygous)
- Anterior cerebral artery (left and right)
- Internal carotid artery (left and right) and its direct extension, the middle cerebral artery
- Posterior communicating artery (left and right)
- Posterior cerebral artery (left and right; both arising from the basilar artery)
However, the circle of Willis shows numerous variants in terms of branch caliber and anastomoses (hypoplasia of individual branches or even agenesis of some segments). This is clinically relevant for the collateral blood supply in stenoses.
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External carotid artery
The region supplied by the external carotid artery can be divided into four groups according to their localization: anterior, middle, and posterior group and terminal branches.
1. Anterior group
Branches (cranial -> caudal)
Branches/Rami
Supply
Thyroid artery
- R. infrahyoideus
- R. cricothyreoideus
- R. sternocleidomastoideus
- Homonymous muscles
- Superior laryngeal artery
- Laryngeal interior
- Rr. glandulares
- Thyroid
Lingual artery
- R. suprahyoideus
- Hyoid
- Rr. dorsales linguae
- Dorsum of tongue
- Sublingual artery
- Sublingual gland
- Deep lingual artery
- Tip of tongue
Facial artery
- Ascending palatine artery
- Soft palate
- Tonsils
- Pharynx
- Submental artery
- Submandibular gland
- Suprahyoid muscles
- Inferior labial artery
- Lower lip
- Superior labial artery
- Upper lip
- Angular artery
- Medial angle of eye
2. Middle group
Branches (cranial -> caudal)
Branches/rami
Supply
Ascending pharyngeal artery
- Rr. pharyngeales
- Pharynx
- Inferior tympanic artery
- Tympanic cavity
- Posterior meningeal artery
- Dura mater
3. Posterior group
Branches (cranial -> caudal)
Branches/rami
Supply
Occipital artery
- R. mastoideus
- Mastoid cells
- Rr. occipitales
- Occipital region
- R. meningeus
- Dura mater
Posterior auricular artery
- R. auricularis
- External ear
- R. occipitalis
- Occipital region
- Stylomastoid artery
- Facial nerve
- Tympanic cavity
- Mastoid cells
- Posterior tympanic artery
- Tympanic cavity
- Mastoid cells
- Rr. pharyngeales
- Pharynx
- R. parotideus
- Parotid gland
4. Terminal branches
Branches (cranial -> caudal)
Supply
Superficial temporal artery
- Transverse facial artery
- Face
- Zygomatico-orbital artery
- Lateral angle of eye
- Middle temporal artery
- Temporal muscle
- R. frontalis
- Scalp
Maxillary artery
Pars mandibularis
- Deep auricular artery
- Temporomandibular joint
- External auditory canal
- Anterior tympanic artery
- Tympanic cavity
- Inferior alveolar artery
- Teeth
- Mandibula
- R. mylohyoideus: floor of mouth
- R. mentalis: chin
- Middle meningeal artery
- Meninges
Pars pterygoidea
- Masseteric artery
- Masseter muscle
- Rr. pterygoidei
- Pterygoid muscles
- Deep temporal arteries
- Temporal muscle
- Buccal artery
- Buccinator muscle
Pars pterygopalatina
- Posterior superior alveolar artery
- Teeth
- Maxilla
- Infraorbital artery
- Maxilla
- Descending palatine artery
- Tonsils
- Soft palate
- Sphenopalatine artery
- Nasal cavity
- Nasal septum
- Artery of pterygoid canal
- Pharynx
- Tympanic cavity
Venous system
The brachiocephalic vein is formed by the confluence of the superficial and deep venous systems at
The brachiocephalic vein is formed by the confluence of the superficial and deep venous systems at
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