A large blood vessel of the neck that carries oxygenated blood to the thyroid gland, face, throat, and mandible.
One of the two divisions of the common carotid artery that supplies blood to the extracranial parts of the head. It branches from the common carotid artery at the top of the trachea and proceeds behind the neck of the mandible toward the rear of the parotid gland. Its major branches are (from bottom to top): the ascending pharyngeal, superior thyroid, lingual, facial, maxillary, occipital, posterior auricular, and superficial temporal arteries.
Supplies blood to the anterior (front) parts of the scalp, ear, face, neck, and sides of the head.