(anatomy) A branch of the maxillary artery that is distributed to the mucous membrane of the mouth and through the mandibular canal to the teeth of the lower jaw.

(anatomy) An inferior artery that arises from the facial artery and divides into two branches of which one supplies the soft palate and the palatine glands and the other supplies especially the tonsils and the eustachian tube.

(anatomy) A branch of the ophthalmic artery that passes to the retina in the middle of the optic nerve and branches to form the arterioles of the retina.

(anatomy) The outer branch of the carotid artery that supplies the face, tongue, and external parts of the head.

(anatomy) A superior artery that arises from the descending palatine artery and sends branches to the soft palate, the palatine glands, the mucous membrane of the hard palate, and the gums.

(anatomy) The part of either carotid artery between its point of origin and its division into the internal and external carotid arteries.

(anatomy) A small branch of the inferior thyroid artery.

(anatomy) A small branch of the external carotid artery that supplies or gives off branches supplying the back of the ear and the adjacent region of the scalp, the middle ear, tympanic membrane, and mastoid cells.

(anatomy) Either of two arterial branches that supply a large muscle on each side of the head involved in raising the lower jaw and that arise from the cerebral artery supplying the deep structures of the face.

(anatomy) A branch of the superficial temporal artery that arises just above the zygomatic arch, sends branches to the temporalis muscle, and anastomoses with a deep temporal artery.