Abstract
The external carotid artery (ECA) arises from the common carotid bifurcation at the C4 vertebral level. A more proximal or distal origin can occur. Variants of the level of the carotid bifurcation are described in Chap. 2. These variants also involve indirectly the origin of the ECA. The ECA may originate directly from the aortic arch. The ECA lies in the carotid space, initially medial and anterior to the internal carotid artery (ICA), seldom lateral to it. More cranially, the ECA runs anterolateral to the ICA. The jugular vein lies posterolateral to the ICA and ECA. The ECA is covered partially by the sternomastoid muscle and crossed by cranial nerve XII. The vagus nerve lies medially. During its course, the ECA gives off several branches. Near the mandibular condyle within the parotid gland, it divides into its terminal branches (Figs. 3.1 and 2.1).
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Bradac, G.B. (2011). External Carotid Artery. In: Cerebral Angiography. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-15678-6_3
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-15678-6_3
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