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Branching Pattern Of External Carotid Artery In Human Cadavers
3128-3133
Correspondence
Dr. Sanjeev I. Kolagi
Associate Professor, Department of Anatomy,
S. Nijalingappa Medical College, Navanagar,
Bagalkot- 587102, Karnataka State, India.
Cell Phone: +919731798355
Email: drsanjeevkolagi@yahoo.co.in
Background: The rich vascularity of most parts of the head and neck is mainly maintained by the external carotid artery through its branches. Like other great vessels of the neck, the external carotid artery and its branches have numerous variations. These variations pose a dangerous situation during various neck surgeries.
Aim: To study the branching pattern of external carotid artery in human cadavers.
Methods: The present cross-sectional study was undertaken to assess the branching pattern of the external carotid artery in 37 formalin-preserved head and neck specimens by detailed dissection method.
Results: The level of termination of the common carotid and the origin of the branches of the external carotid arteries were found to be variable significantly. The anterior branches of the external carotid arose separately only in 56.76% of the cases and in the remaining, they shared common trunks between themselves. In 35.14% of the cases, the superior thyroid artery was found to arise from the common carotid. The posterior branches were found to share common trunks between themselves in 27% of the cases. The point of origin of the branches from the external carotid artery was also found to be variable. The trunk between the occipital and the ascending pharyngeal arteries was the commonest, the next common to it was the linguofacial trunk and the least common was the thyrolingual trunk.
Conclusion: It can be concluded that these vessels show great variability and hence, a better anatomical knowledge about the vessels and their variations is essential in head and neck surgeries and also during the interpretation of angiograms by the radiologist.