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224 ANATOMY. : ;
matici muscles and the levator labii superioris, passing over the buccina-
tor, the levator anguli oris, and occasionally over the levator labii supe-
rioris proprius. It terminates either upon the levator labii superioris,
alffique nasi, or within the substance of" the muscle.
The facial artery is very tortuous both in the neck and in the face
for if the course was a straight line from its origin to its termination
the artery by its inelasticity would bind the different structures through
or over which it passes, interfering with the free action of the jaws and
the mobility of the lips and muscles of expression. The same winding
of this vessel in the neck permits free movement of the larynx and its
associate parts, and prevents interference with deglutition.
The Facial Vein is superficial to and accompanies the facial artery
throughout its course part of the submaxillary gland is interposed
;
between them in the neck. As they cross the jaw the artery and vein
are in close proximity, but in the face they are separated by the zvgo-
maticus minor and the levator labii superioris. Branches of the fiujial
nerve pass over the artery as it crosses the infraorbital nerve ; these
latter are usually separated by the elevator muscle of the uj^per lip.
Branches of the Facial Artery.—The branches of the facial artery
are divided into two sets, cervical and facial, according to the locality
through which they extend. They are as follows
Cervical Branches. Facial Branches.
Inferior or ascending palatine, Inferior labial,
Tonsillar, Inferior coronary,
Glandular, Superior coronary,
Submental, Lateralis nasi.
Angular.
The Inferior or Ascending Palatine Artery is the first branch of the
facial, though in some instances it arises from the external carotid. It
extends upward, and passes beneath the stylo-glossus and stylo-pharyn-
geus muscles, above which it will be found running between the internal
pterygoid and the walls of the pharynx to a level with the soft palate.
In its course it distributes branches to the surrounding muscles, the
tonsils, and the Eustachian tube. Near the levator palati muscle it
divides into two branches, superior aiid inferior. The superior sup]ilies
the levator palati muscle, the soft palate, and the palatine glands. The
inferior supplies the tonsils and anastomoses with the tonsillar artery.
These two vessels also communicate with the posterior palatine branches
of the inferior maxillary arterv.
The Tonsillar Artery, a branch of the facial, extends upward super-
ficially to the stylo-glossus muscles, passes through a perforation in the
superior constrictor of the pharynx, and gives off small branches to the
tonsils, side of the tongue, and mucous membrane of the surrounding
parts. When the tonsillar branch of the facial artery is absent, the
])arts to which it is generally distributed are sujiplied by the descending
palathie or ascending pharyngeal branches, or both.
The Ghinchilar Arteries (submaxillary) are several short branches
from the facial wliich are distributed to the muco-salivary submaxillary
gland. Some of these branches extend through the substance of the