Tell me the 8 branches of External Carotid Artery and their blood supply
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The 8 branches of the external carotid artery (ECA) supply most of the neck, face, scalp, oral cavity, pharynx, and external ear.
| Branch | Main blood supply |
|---|---|
| 1. Superior thyroid artery | Thyroid gland; infrahyoid muscles; cricothyroid and sternocleidomastoid muscles; upper larynx |
| 2. Ascending pharyngeal artery | Pharynx and pharyngeal muscles, soft palate, palatine tonsil, auditory tube; parts of middle ear and meninges of posterior cranial fossa |
| 3. Lingual artery | Tongue, floor of mouth, sublingual gland, gingiva, palatine tonsil, soft palate, epiglottis |
| 4. Facial artery | Superficial face, lips, nose, medial angle of eye; submandibular gland, tonsil, soft palate |
| 5. Occipital artery | Posterior scalp, sternocleidomastoid, deep posterior neck muscles; mastoid region and posterior cranial fossa meninges |
| 6. Posterior auricular artery | Auricle, scalp behind the ear, parotid region; contributes to middle and inner ear supply |
| 7. Maxillary artery | Deep face: muscles of mastication, teeth and gingivae, nasal cavity, palate, maxillary sinus, tympanic cavity, dura mater, infratemporal region |
| 8. Superficial temporal artery | Scalp over temporal and parietal regions, lateral face, parotid gland, temporalis and masseter muscles; anterior auricle |
Arrangement
- Anterior branches: Superior thyroid, lingual, facial
- Posterior branches: Occipital, posterior auricular
- Medial branch: Ascending pharyngeal
- Terminal branches: Maxillary and superficial temporal
Mnemonic: “Some Anatomists Like Freaking Out Poor Medical Students”
Superior thyroid, Ascending pharyngeal, Lingual, Facial, Occipital, Posterior auricular, Maxillary, Superficial temporal.
Superior thyroid, Ascending pharyngeal, Lingual, Facial, Occipital, Posterior auricular, Maxillary, Superficial temporal.
Source: Gray’s Anatomy for Students, Table 8.13, p. 1152.
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