Study of Clinical Implications of Variable Patterns of Major Arteries of Neck with Their Ontological Basis

Objective: As arterial variations are very commonly seen in different arteries of body, study of External carotid artery was carried out to know the variability in it. The main artery supplying the structures of the neck and face is the external carotid artery. From the standpoint of surgeries performed in that location, variations in the branching pattern of the external carotid artery are essential surgically and radiologically. The goal of this research was to look into the branching pattern of the external carotid artery.

Methods: The external carotid artery was studied by dissecting the carotid triangle of the neck and the infra temporal fossa.

Results: The common carotid artery usually splits near the upper boundary of the thyroid cartilage lamina.

The level of bifurcation of the common carotid artery can vary; it might develop at a lower or higher level than its normal origin, as seen in this study.

The superior thyroid artery, the facial artery, and the lingual artery are some of the branches of the external carotid artery that have different origins. These include the superior thyroid artery's origin from the common carotid artery, a common trunk for the facial and lingual arteries, and a variety of other variations. These were found in this study.

Conclusion: The different sources of the branches of the external carotid artery are significant in thyroid, parotid gland, and tongue surgeries, as well as in head, neck, and face diagnostic procedures.