I now have all the sub-branch detail. Here is the complete, fully expanded guide:
π©Έ Complete Sub-Branches of Every ECA Branch
Every Named Branch, Every Structure It Supplies
β
YES β The previous guide was incomplete for sub-branches.
Each ECA branch has its own named sub-branches. Here they all are, laid out as a tree, one by one.
ECA BRANCH 1: Superior Thyroid Artery
β Sub-branches:
| Sub-branch | Supplies |
|---|
| Infrahyoid artery | Infrahyoid muscles |
| Superior laryngeal artery | Larynx (upper: mucosa, muscles) |
| Sternomastoid artery | SCM muscle |
| Cricothyroid artery | Cricothyroid membrane & muscle |
Memory: "I Saw Some Crickets" = Infrahyoid, Superior laryngeal, Sternomastoid, Cricothyroid
ECA BRANCH 2: Ascending Pharyngeal Artery
β Sub-branches:
| Sub-branch | Supplies |
|---|
| Pharyngeal branches | Walls of oropharynx & hypopharynx |
| Prevertebral branches | Prevertebral muscles |
| Inferior tympanic branch | Middle ear (tympanic cavity) |
ECA BRANCH 3: Lingual Artery
β Sub-branches:
| Sub-branch | Supplies |
|---|
| Suprahyoid artery | Muscles above hyoid bone |
| Dorsal lingual arteries (2-3 branches) | Posterior dorsum of tongue, palatoglossal arch, soft palate, tonsil, epiglottis |
| Sublingual artery | Sublingual gland, mylohyoid, genioglossus, mandible (via lingual foramen) |
| Deep lingual artery (terminal) | Tip and inferior surface of tongue (near frenum) |
Memory: "Some Dogs Suffer Deeply" = Suprahyoid, Dorsal lingual, Sublingual, Deep lingual
ECA BRANCH 4: Facial Artery
β Sub-branches (divided into CERVICAL and FACIAL parts):
Cervical part (in the neck, before hooking over mandible):
| Sub-branch | Supplies |
|---|
| Ascending palatine artery | Soft palate, tonsil, auditory tube |
| Tonsillar artery | Main supply to palatine tonsil |
| Submaxillary (glandular) branches | Submandibular gland |
| Submental artery | Floor of mouth, chin |
Facial part (on the face):
| Sub-branch | Supplies |
|---|
| Inferior labial artery | Lower lip |
| Superior labial artery | Upper lip, nasal septum (anterior) |
| Lateral nasal artery | Ala and dorsum of nose |
| Angular artery (terminal) | Medial angle of eye; anastomoses with ophthalmic artery |
Memory for facial part: "I See Little Angels" = Inferior labial, Superior labial, Lateral nasal, Angular
ECA BRANCH 5: Occipital Artery
β Sub-branches:
| Sub-branch | Supplies |
|---|
| Sternomastoid artery | SCM muscle |
| Auricular artery | Back of ear |
| Meningeal branches | Posterior cranial fossa dura |
| Occipital branch | Posterior scalp (main terminal supply) |
ECA BRANCH 6: Posterior Auricular Artery
β Sub-branches:
| Sub-branch | Supplies |
|---|
| Stylomastoid branch | Facial nerve canal, middle ear |
| Stapedial branch | Stapes (in middle ear) |
| Auricular branch | Pinna (posterior surface) |
| Occipital branch | Small area of occipital scalp |
Clinical note: Stylomastoid branch is important in mastoid surgery - can bleed significantly.
ECA TERMINAL BRANCH 1: Superficial Temporal Artery
β Sub-branches:
| Sub-branch | Supplies |
|---|
| Transverse facial artery | Cheek, parotid duct region (given off before leaving parotid) |
| Middle temporal artery | Temporalis muscle (deep to fascia) |
| Anterior auricular branches | Front of ear, external auditory meatus |
| Frontal branch (terminal) | Anterior scalp |
| Parietal branch (terminal) | Posterior-lateral scalp |
ECA TERMINAL BRANCH 2: Maxillary Artery (Internal Maxillary)
This has 3 parts with branches from each:
PART 1 β Mandibular (Bony) Part:
| Branch | Supplies |
|---|
| Deep auricular artery | External auditory meatus, tympanic membrane |
| Anterior tympanic artery | Middle ear (tympanic membrane) |
| Middle meningeal artery β | Dura mater (via foramen spinosum) β most important |
| Accessory meningeal artery | Trigeminal ganglion, dura |
| Inferior alveolar artery (inferior dental) | Lower teeth, mandible, chin (via mental foramen = mental artery) |
PART 2 β Pterygoid Part:
| Branch | Supplies |
|---|
| Deep temporal branches (anterior + posterior) | Temporalis muscle |
| Pterygoid branches | Pterygoid muscles |
| Masseteric artery | Masseter muscle |
| Buccal artery | Buccinator muscle, cheek mucosa |
PART 3 β Pterygopalatine (Sphenomaxillary) Part:
| Branch | Supplies |
|---|
| Posterior superior alveolar artery | Upper molar teeth, maxillary sinus |
| Infraorbital artery | Lower eyelid, upper lip, cheek (via infraorbital foramen) |
| Descending palatine artery β greater & lesser palatine | Hard palate, soft palate |
| Artery of pterygoid canal (Vidian artery) | Pharynx, auditory tube, tympanic cavity |
| Pharyngeal (pterygopalatine) artery | Roof of nose/nasopharynx |
| Sphenopalatine artery β | Main supply to nasal cavity (enters via sphenopalatine foramen); anastomoses with ethmoid arteries at Kiesselbach's plexus |
| Posterior nasal artery | Posterior nasal septum and lateral wall |
Sphenopalatine = most common source of posterior epistaxis
SPECIAL SECTION: Blood Supply to Key Structures (compiled from all branches)
Palatine Tonsil:
- Facial artery β tonsillar artery (main)
- Lingual artery β dorsal lingual branches
- Ascending palatine artery (facial artery)
- Maxillary artery β descending palatine β greater palatine
- Ascending pharyngeal artery
Adenoids (Nasopharyngeal Tonsil):
- Facial artery β ascending palatine branch
- Ascending pharyngeal artery
- Maxillary artery β pharyngeal branch
- Thyrocervical trunk β ascending cervical branch
Nasal Cavity / Septum (Kiesselbach's Plexus = Little's Area):
| Artery | From |
|---|
| Anterior ethmoidal | Ophthalmic β ICA |
| Posterior ethmoidal | Ophthalmic β ICA |
| Sphenopalatine | Maxillary β ECA |
| Greater palatine | Maxillary β ECA |
| Superior labial | Facial β ECA |
Memory: "ASSG + L" = Anterior ethmoidal, Sphenopalatine, Superior labial, Greater palatine (+ posterior ethmoidal)
Tongue:
- Lingual artery (main β deep lingual, dorsal lingual, sublingual)
- Tonsillar branch (facial artery) β base of tongue
- Superior laryngeal artery β root/epiglottis region
Teeth:
- Upper teeth: Posterior superior alveolar + infraorbital (Maxillary a.)
- Lower teeth: Inferior alveolar (Maxillary a.) β mental artery for chin
VENOUS COUNTERPARTS OF THE SUB-BRANCHES
Face drainage:
- Superior + inferior labial veins β Facial vein
- Buccal vein β Pterygoid venous plexus β Maxillary vein β Retromandibular vein
- Superior/inferior alveolar veins β Pterygoid plexus OR facial vein
- Transverse facial vein β Superficial temporal vein
Key venous plexus β Pterygoid Venous Plexus:
- Located in infratemporal fossa
- Drains: teeth, cheek, palate, deep face
- Drains into: Maxillary vein β Retromandibular vein β IJV
- Communicates with: Cavernous sinus (dangerous pathway for infection!)
MASTER TREE SUMMARY
AORTA
β
βββ BRACHIOCEPHALIC TRUNK (right)
β βββ Right Common Carotid
β β βββ ICA β no neck branches β brain, eye
β β βββ ECA β
β β βββ Superior Thyroid β Infrahyoid, Sup laryngeal, SCM, Cricothyroid
β β βββ Ascending Pharyngeal β Pharyngeal, Prevertebral, Inf tympanic
β β βββ Lingual β Suprahyoid, Dorsal lingual, Sublingual, Deep lingual
β β βββ Facial β Asc palatine, Tonsillar, Submental, Inf labial, Sup labial, Lateral nasal, Angular
β β βββ Occipital β SCM, Auricular, Meningeal, Occipital branch
β β βββ Posterior Auricular β Stylomastoid, Stapedial, Auricular, Occipital
β β βββ Superficial Temporal β Transverse facial, Middle temporal, Ant auricular, Frontal, Parietal
β β βββ Maxillary β
β β βββ Part 1: Deep auricular, Ant tympanic, Middle meningealβ, Acc meningeal, Inf alveolar
β β βββ Part 2: Deep temporal, Pterygoid, Masseteric, Buccal
β β βββ Part 3: Post sup alveolar, Infraorbital, Desc palatine, Vidian, Pharyngeal, Sphenopalatineβ, Post nasal
β βββ Right Subclavian
β βββ Vertebral β posterior brain (basilar), spinal cord
β βββ Internal Thoracic
β βββ Thyrocervical Trunk β Inferior thyroid, Suprascapular, Transverse cervical
β
βββ Left Common Carotid + Left Subclavian (directly from aorta, same branches)
Sources: K.J. Lee's Essential Otolaryngology; Scott-Brown's Otorhinolaryngology Head & Neck Surgery; Gray's Anatomy for Students; Cummings Otolaryngology