Occipital artery 3907428 224660356 2008-07-09T21:19:44Z Jonathan Cardy 4071608 disambig Atlas {{Infobox Artery | Name = {{PAGENAME}} | Latin = arteria occipitalis | GraySubject = 144 | GrayPage = 556 | Image = Gray508.png | Caption = The arteries of the face and scalp. (Occipital visible at center left.) | Image2 = Occipital artery.PNG| Caption2 = Superficial dissection of the right side of the neck, showing the carotid and subclavian arteries.| BranchFrom = [[external carotid artery]] | BranchTo = | Vein = [[occipital vein]] | Supplies = [[occiput]], [[scalp]] | MeshName = | MeshNumber = | DorlandsPre = a_61 | DorlandsSuf = 12155290 | }} The '''occipital artery''' arise opposite the [[facial artery]], its path is below the posterior belly of [[digastic]] to the [[occipital]] region. This artery supplies blood to the back of the scalp and [[sterno-mastoid]] muscles. Other muscles it supplies are deep muscles in the back and neck. ==Course and Relations== At its origin, it is covered by the posterior belly of the [[Digastricus]] and the [[Stylohyoideus]], and the [[hypoglossal nerve]] winds around it from behind forward; higher up, it crosses the [[internal carotid artery]], the [[internal jugular vein]], and the [[vagus]] and [[accessory nerve]]s. It next ascends to the interval between the transverse process of the [[Atlas (anatomy)|atlas]] and the [[mastoid process]] of the [[temporal bone]], and passes horizontally backward, grooving the surface of the latter bone, being covered by the [[Sternocleidomastoideus]], [[Splenius capitis]], [[Longissimus capitis]], and [[Digastricus]], and resting upon the [[Rectus capitis lateralis]], the [[Obliquus superior]], and [[Semispinalis capitis]]. It then changes its course and runs vertically upward, pierces the fascia connecting the cranial attachment of the [[Trapezius]] with the [[Sternocleidomastoideus]], and ascends in a tortuous course in the superficial fascia of the scalp, where it divides into numerous branches, which reach as high as the [[vertex (anatomy)|vertex of the skull]] and [[anastomose]] with the [[posterior auricular]] and [[superficial temporal]] arteries. ===Branches=== # Sternocleidomastoid branch # Auricular branch # Mastoid branch # Descending branches # Occipital branches Its terminal portion is accompanied by the [[greater occipital nerve]]. ==Additional images== <gallery> Image:Gray513.png|The internal carotid and vertebral arteries. Right side. Image:Gray790.png|The nerves of the scalp, face, and side of neck. Image:Gray800.png|Posterior primary divisions of the upper three cervical nerves. Image:Gray1210.png|Side of neck, showing chief surface markings. </gallery> ==External links== * {{eMedicineDictionary|Occipital+artery}} * {{MUNAnatomy|head/cbv}} * {{NormanAnatomy|lesson4}} ({{NormanAnatomyFig|parotid4}}) * [http://www.stchas.edu/divisions/aao/ace/science/modelpics/circulatory/head.shtml Diagram at stchas.edu] * [http://cis-ps2.osu-com.okstate.edu/hector/back/OccipitalArterytr.htm Description at okstate.edu] * http://www.dartmouth.edu/~humananatomy/figures/chapter_47/47-2.HTM {{Gray's}} {{circulatory-stub}} {{Arteries of head and neck}} [[Category:Arteries]] [[de:Arteria occipitalis]] [[nds:Arteria occipitalis]]