External carotid artery

Looks like

The branch of the carotid that stays outside the skull, spreading over the face, scalp and neck.

What it does

Supplies the face, scalp, jaw, tongue and thyroid.

Keeping it well

Its branch in the temple inflames in giant-cell arteritis; nosebleeds from its branches can be heavy but usually stop with pressure.

Its parts

• Maxillary artery
• Facial artery
• Ascending pharyngeal artery
• Superficial temporal artery
• Occipital artery

Related conditions

• Carotid artery stenosis
• High blood pressure
• High cholesterol
• Hypothermia & frostbite
• Kawasaki disease
• Metabolic syndrome
• Orthostatic hypotension & POTS
• Peripheral artery disease
• Phaeochromocytoma & hyperaldosteronism
• Pre-eclampsia
• Raynaud's phenomenon
• Sepsis
• Shock (circulatory failure)
• Takayasu arteritis
• Vasculitis (GCA & others)