Arteries of face and scalp (Anterior view: superficial) (English)

The facial artery arises from the external carotid artery within the neck and continues along the inner surface of the mandible. It then crosses over the inferior aspect of the mandible and continues its course superiorly across the face. The branches of the facial artery which supply the superficial face and scalp are the submental artery, supplying the submental area (alongside the mental branch of the inferior alveolar artery), the superior and inferior labial arteries (see next image), which supply the upper and lower lip, the lateral nasal artery, which supplies the skin of the nose and its terminal branch, the angular artery (see next image).Supplying the superficial aspect of the face and scalp is one of the terminal branches of the external carotid artery, the superficial temporal artery. The superficial temporal artery extends through the temporal region and gives rise to its two main branches: the transverse facial and middle temporal arteries. The zygomaticoorbital artery is an occasional branch of the middle temporal artery that runs along the upper border of the zygomatic arch. It may also arise from the superficial temporal artery.