VAN 121: Veterinary Gross Anatomy-II (2+2)

OCCIPITAL ARTERY

• It is the smallest of the terminal branches of the common carotid artery.
• It passes upwards beneath the wing of atlas and during its course it gives off,
  • Muscular branches to the ventral straight muscles of the head.
  • Branches to the pharynx
  • Palatine branches to the soft palate. It is then continued as the condyloid artery.
  • The condyloid artery passes into the cranium through the anterior foramen in the condyloid fossa and joins the vertebral artery in the formation of rete mirabile cerebri.
  • Before entering the cranium it gives off a branch to the pharyngeal lymph glands and the middle meningeal artery.
  • The latter passes through the foramen lacerum. Another branch enters the temporal canal and gives twigs to the temporalis muscle and the mucous membrane of the frontal sinus.
  • A diploic branch goes into the occipital condyle and emits twigs to the occipital muscles.