External Maxillary artery arises from the common carotid artery, passes downwards and forwards on the lateral wall of the pharynx in company with the hypoglossal nerve and reaches the ramus of the mandible and turns round the posterior border of the horizontal ramus in company with the external maxillary vein and the Stenson’s duct and the ventral buccal nerve. Here it is placed subcutaneously and is useful for feeling the pulse. It then ascends the cheek in front of the masseter, passes under the zygomaticus.
Collateral branches of External Maxillary artery
- Pharyngeal and palatine branches to the pharynx and soft palate.
- Branchesto the parotid salivary gland.
- The lingual artery is large, runs in company with the glossopharyngeal nerve reaches the anterior extremity of the tongue.
- It supplies branches to the muscles of the tongue and mucous membrane, submaxillary salivary gland it detaches a sublingual artery to the sublingual salivary gland.
- The inferior labial artery is a slender vessel, which passes in company with the ventral buccal nerve along the inferior border of the depressor labii inferioris and it furnishes branches to the buccinator, cutaneous muscle, skin and the lower lip.
- The superior labial artery supplies branches to masseter, zygomaticus, malaris and muscles of the upper lip and cheek and terminates in the nostril.
- External Maxillary artery-
