External carotid artery External carotid artery The external carotid artery is a major artery of the head and neck. It arises from the common carotid artery when it splits into the external and internal carotid artery. It supplies blood to the face and neck. The external carotid artery begins at the upper border of thyroid cartilage, and curves, passing forward and upward, and then inclining backward to the space behind the neck of the mandible, where it divides into the superficial temporal and maxillary artery within the parotid gland. It rapidly diminishes in size as it travels up the neck, owing to the
Carotid triangle Carotid triangle The carotid triangle (or superior carotid triangle) is a portion of the anterior triangle of the neck. It is bounded: It is (covered) by the integument, superficial fascia, Platysma and deep fascia; Its floor is formed by parts of the -1 Thyrohyoid membrane, -2Hyoglossus, and the -3Constrictores pharyngis medius and inferior. The external and internal carotids lie side by side, the external being the more anterior of the two. The following branches of the external carotid are also met with in this space: The veins met with are: ...all of which end in the internal jugular vein Superficial