Arteries of the Head

Description

Presented in lateral profile, the male cranium and upper cervical spine are paired with the major arterial pathways of the head and neck, tracing the common carotid artery superiorly to its bifurcation into the internal and external carotid arteries at the upper cervical level. Branching from the external carotid, facial and superficial temporal arteries course anteriorly across the face and superiorly over the temporal region, while the internal carotid ascends deep to the mandibular ramus toward the skull base. Posterior to the pharyngeal and vertebral column region, the vertebral artery rises through the transverse foramina of the cervical vertebrae, approaching the foramen magnum to contribute to the posterior circulation. A side view like this clarifies what students often miss in schematic diagrams, the way carotid and vertebral systems run in parallel yet occupy different tissue planes and bony corridors. That relationship matters in stroke teaching, where anterior circulation infarcts track to the internal carotid system and posterior circulation events reflect vertebrobasilar compromise. It also supports surgical orientation: carotid endarterectomy planning hinges on the level of the carotid bifurcation relative to the angle of the mandible and the transverse processes, and the vertebral artery’s passage through the cervical transverse foramina frames the risk zone during anterior cervical spine approaches. Bony landmarks anchor vascular anatomy. Use this artwork in head and neck anatomy courses, neurovascular modules, and radiology teaching that pairs angiographic concepts with palpable or visible skeletal reference points, as well as in patient education materials explaining carotid stenosis and vertebral artery injury mechanisms after cervical trauma. Anatomical accuracy verified by SciePro's Medical Advisory Board.