Ascending pharyngeal artery

Looks like

The smallest external carotid branch, running straight up beside the throat toward the skull base.

What it does

Supplies the throat wall, soft palate, middle ear and some nerves and dura at the skull base.

Keeping it well

Can feed skull-base tumours; blocked on purpose before some operations.

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)