Vessel
Facial artery
Chief artery of the face
High-yield
Its pulse is palpable where it crosses the inferior border of the mandible, just anterior to the masseter.
Overview
A branch of the external carotid artery that supplies the superficial face, following a tortuous course to the medial corner of the eye.
Reference facts
- Type
Muscular artery
- Origin
External carotid artery
- Branches / tributaries
Inferior and superior labial; Lateral nasal; Angular artery (terminal)
- Supplies
Superficial face, lips, and nose
- Course
Arises in the neck, loops over the submandibular gland, crosses the mandible anterior to masseter, and ascends tortuously to the medial canthus